There were upsetting scenes during Fiorentina’s 1-0 defeat to Verona this afternoon as Moise Kean collapsed on the pitch following a nasty head collision.
Antoine Bernede struck deep into stoppage time to secure hosts Verona all three points, but the hard-fought Serie A contest was largely overshadowed by Kean’s injury midway through the second half.
Kean appeared to take a knee to side of his head during a three-way collision involving Pawel Dawidowicz and Diego Coppola and was treated by Fiorentina’s medical staff for a large wound above his left eye.
And while Kean attempted to play on after returning to his feet, the forward hit the deck again moments later, with both sets of players expressing real concern while franticly gesturing for medics to attend to the ex-Everton man.
The Italy international was subsequently stretchered from the field sporting a neck brace, before being carried into a pitch-side ambulance inside Verona’s Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.
‘ACF Fiorentina announces that the player Moise Kean suffered a head injury during the match against Verona,’ a statement on Fiorentina’s official website said shortly after the final whistle.
‘The player is in hospital for checks.’
The events were eerily similar to those that played out back in December when Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove – on loan from Roma – collapsed during the side’s league match with Inter Milan.
Bove later underwent successful surgery to implant a removable heart starter device and the 22-year-old was in the stands to watch Fiorentina’s loss in Verona today.
The Italy Under-21 international was seen turning away as the ordeal involving Kean played out.
Kean has enjoyed an excellent season with Fiorentina, racking up 15 goals and two assists for the club in the Italian top flight.
Only Mateo Retegui of Atalanta has outscored Kean in Serie A this term and Fiorentina will hope to have their star man back to full strength as quickly as possible, with the club sitting sixth and in the hunt for European qualification.
More to follow.
