Guinea’s Mouctar Diakhaby to undergo knee surgery after Real Madrid clash, vows to return stronger

Guinea international defender Mouctar Diakhaby is set to undergo surgery in France after suffering a dislocated right knee, according to a statement from his club Valencia CF on Tuesday.

The injury occurred during Valencia’s 2-2 draw against Real Madrid on Saturday in the Spanish La Liga, as Diakhaby was involved in a collision with Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni in the dying minutes of the game.

The defender had to be carried off the field on a stretcher, leaving players from both teams visibly distraught.

Diakhaby, who is 27 years old, visited the Valencia training centre on crutches and spent two days in a hospital under medical observation. He also met with his teammates on Tuesday.

In a statement, Diakhaby acknowledged that injuries are a part of the game.

He also took to social media to say, “The road to recovery may be long, but I am ready for the challenge. I will do everything in my power to come back stronger and return to the field as soon as possible.”

The centre-back was pivotal for Guinea at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, helping Syli Nationale reach the quarter-finals stage, playing four games out of five.