Vrsaljko’s tears in Porto

“Sime Vrsaljko presents a fracture of the zygomatic arch, as determined by a CT/Scanner to which he has undergone his return from Porto and he will have to undergo surgery for his injury”, announced the medical report of Atlético de Madrid the day after an epic victory in Porto (1-3).

It was the night of Vrsalkathat of December 7, 2021. Atlético needed to win in Porto in the last match of the first phase of the Champions to be in the round of 16. Savic, Gimenez y Felipe were low and Simeone he resorted to Croatian as an emergency defense in the axis of the rear.

Vrsaljko was the hero of the match, which the rojiblancos won 1-3 with goals from Griezmann, Correa y De Paul. Despite being the victim of a broken zygomatic arch, located in the cheekbone area, the Croatian finished the match and was one of the great protagonists. He played in an unusual position, but he was the best of Simeone’s three central defenders at the Estadio do Darlingsurpassing the Condogbia y Handsome.

He played the entire second half with his face literally broken and during the 90 minutes he assumed the Atletico character and pride. Vrsaljko That night he completed his best match as an athlete in the five seasons in which he played for the club.

In the 89th minute, after scoring Correa 0-2, which sentenced the pass to the round of 16, the Croatian burst into tears as he merged into an emotional hug with Simeone. “There are players with few minutes but they are important because of the quality of the minutes. Today it was the turn of Vrsaljkothat we knew had trained him and could do well, just like Condogbia. The whole team got involved to put their heart and give everything. I am very happy for Vrsaljko. The whole second half he played with a hurt face. He had played in preseason there (in the center of defense). He has strength, speed, a header and an inside pass and he fulfilled all the requirements”, declared the coach after the match.

Sime Vrsaljko signed for him Atlético in July 2016 from Sassuolo Italian. In 2018 he was loaned out to Inter de Milanbut in February 2019 he suffered a serious injury to his left knee that kept him off the pitch for eight months.

returned to Atlético after surgery on Belgium to start his recovery under the supervision of the club’s medical services. On May 11, 2022, he reached one hundred games with the rojiblancos, with which he won the 2020/21 League and the 2018 Europa League.

Vrsaljko, 30, leaves the Atletico Madrid. The fans will remember him, especially, for his night in Porto. There he exhibited his commitment and professionalism. Her tears did not go unnoticed. His plaque on the walk of legends of Metropolitan does justice.

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