Al-Shahrani, the Saudi Arabian defender undergoes pancreatic surgery after the clash with the goalkeeper – Corriere.it

The impact between Yasir Al-Shahrani and his goalkeeper, Mohammed Al-Owais, in the final minutes of Argentina-Saudi Arabia on Tuesday 22 November (with the Arab team’s sensational 2-1 success), had raised fears of serious consequences especially for the face of the 30-year-old, who went out on a stretcher amidst the general concern of his companions. An accidental knee strike in the face that caused a jaw fracture and a collapse of the facial bonesas stated in the official bulletin released by the Saudi selection, which effectively put an end to its World Cup.

Further investigations then revealed an internal hemorrhage so he will have to be operated on immediately. The impact was so strong that it also caused damage to the pancreas. The direct intervention of the Saudi Arabian royal family was immediate, which moved immediately – with the crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman – to provide Al-Shahrani with all the necessary support in this difficult moment. Yasser Al Shahrani underwent successful pancreatic surgery at the King Abdulaziz Medical City of Riyadh at the National Guard Hospital. He remains under the full supervision of the national team’s medical staff. The Saudi football family wishes Yasser a speedy recovery, it said.

But this is only the first step in the long and complex journey that awaits Al Shahrani, who will have to go under the knife no earlier than a couple of weeks due to the fractures of his face, nose and teeth. Indeed, the Saudi crown prince himself financed the imminent transfer to Germany on a private jet of the defender of the national team that will have to operate on the face for fractures to the jaw and facial bones. I want to reassure everyone and confirm that I’m fine. God bless you – said the defender in a video on his social profiles recorded in the Saudi hospital -, pray for me. Congratulations to the Saudi public on their victory, you all deserve it. Thank you all.