Zanetti not to retire despite serious injury

IANS
FC Internazionale Milano manager Andrea Stramaccioni shakes hands with his player Javier Zanetti at the end of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and Tottenham Hotspur at San Siro Stadium on March 14, 2013 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

FC Internazionale Milano manager Andrea Stramaccioni and skipper Javier Zanetti. (Getty Images)

Rome, April 29 (IANS): Inter Milan head coach Andrea Stramaccioni has confirmed that his captain Javier Zanetti had torn his achilles tendon in the defeat to Palermo in the Italian Serie A.

The injury-depleted Milan side saw Zanetti stretchered off 17 minutes into the game against Palermo Sunday.

“I am not a medic, but a lesion to the achilles tendon does sound serious,” said Stramaccioni.

The injury, which could keep Zanetti out of action for eight months, could end the Argentine’s career as he turns 40 in August.

“It’s another heavy blow and one we really could’ve done without, because Zanetti’s value to us is incredible. It’s difficult to comment on a situation like this,” said Stramaccioni.

Skipper Javier Zanetti has claimed that he will not hang up his boots after snapping his achilles tendon in his side’s 0-1 defeat to Palermo.

The Argentine pulled up after an innocuous challenge with Salvatore Aronica with only 17 minutes into play Sunday and was then stretchered off.

“At a certain point I felt a pull and it hurt so much. It still does,” he said. “I will overcome this too.”

The initial diagnosis is a lesion to the achilles tendon, but tests will show how long he’ll be out for. An injury of this type can keep a player sidelined for eight months.

Considering that Zanetti turns 40 in August, there are fears this could mark the end of his career.

Inter Milan head coach Andrea Stramaccioni has confirmed that his captain Javier Zanetti had torn his achilles tendon in the defeat to Palermo in the Italian Serie A.

The injury-depleted Milan side saw Zanetti stretchered off 17 minutes into the game against Palermo Sunday, reports Xinhua.

“I am not a medic, but a lesion to the achilles tendon does sound serious,” said Stramaccioni.

The injury, which could keep Zanetti out of action for eight months, could end the Argentine’s career as he turns 40 in August.

“It’s another heavy blow and one we really could’ve done without, because Zanetti’s value to us is incredible. It’s difficult to comment on a situation like this,” said Stramaccioni.

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