Netherlands star Kevin Strootman yesterday suffered a knee ligament injury which will rule him out for the remainder of the league season, while placing into serious doubt any hope of him making the plane to Brazil this summer.
- By David lee Wheatley
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Having picked up what appeared to be a small knock playing for his country in a disappointing friendly defeat last week against France, Strootman was selected to start for his Italian club Roma in an important Serie A clash versus Napoli. However, after only 12 minutes, the Dutchman collapsed in agony before being taken from the field of play on a stretcher.
The news today that the midfielder’s torn cruciate ligament will rule him out of the rest of the Serie A season, after what has been a most promising opening to his first year in the Eternal City, will certainly send shockwaves through the Oranje camp with the squad announcement for the World Cup fast approaching over the horizon.
It’s also been rumoured in recent weeks that faltering Premier League giants Manchester United were looking to rekindle their interest in the player during the close season following his fine form for the Giallorossi, but that possibility would seem remote at best now following the shattering injury blow suffered on Sunday.
National team coach Louis van Gaal will have been counting on the former PSV star to fill one of the places in his 23-man squad, thus forcing him to re-evaluate the make-up of his midfield. Strootman would have been one of the first names on Van Gaal’s team sheet, but he will now look to the likes of Stijn Schaars, Leroy Fer, Nigel de Jong, or Jordy Clasie to replace the Dutch midfielder.
oh my. We need him !