Paris Saint Germain goalkeeper Sergio Rico has been hospitalized after suffering serious injuries in a freak accident.
Following the Ligue title victory on Saturday, the club allowed every player permission to go on a mini vacation to take some time off. Sergio Rico decided to go back to his hometown Sevilla to spend time with his family and friends.
But unfortunately, it was then that disaster struck the player. With just one game of the season left, the goalkeeper has been left seriously injured while on vacation.
The accident occurred when Rico was horseback riding, however, his retinue has stated that it was not a horseback fall. A runaway horse is thought to have struck Rico in the neck. He has suffered serious head injuries as a result.
He was said to be joining a mass with some of his relatives in the city of Seville. The accident took place in the El Rocio region of Huelva in Spain.
PSG keeper Sergio Rico is in serious condition and in intensive care after a horse riding accident in Spain, the club says.
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 28, 2023
Full story: https://t.co/IDxo4V4D8G pic.twitter.com/qQfP75ZSnO
He was soon given a helicopter airlift and is currently in ICU in the Virgen del Rocio hospital. He is surrounded by friends and family and under constant care. More tests are to be conducted to further help the player.
A statement said, “Sergio is in good hands, fighting to recover.” It also stressed that the progress of his condition will be decided in the next 48 hours.
Le Paris Saint-Germain a pris connaissance de l’accident de son joueur Sergio Rico ce dimanche et reste en contact permanent avec ses proches.
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) May 28, 2023
L’ensemble de la communauté Rouge et Bleu leur apporte tout son soutien.
PSG also confirmed the Spanish reports that Sergio Rico is in the emergency room. They released a statement that said, “Paris Saint-Germain learned of the accident involving its player Sergio Rico on Sunday and remains in constant contact with his loved ones. The entire Red and Blue community offers them its full support.”
His former club Sevilla also posted on Twitter, “Lots of strength and speedy recovery, @sergiorico25”
Sergio Rico: His career in a nutshell
Sergio Rico, who is 29, joined PSG in 2020 after spending a season on loan with the club. He formerly played for Sevilla, Fulham, and Mallorca. He also played once for the Spanish national team in 2016.
The Spaniard made his debut in 2014 for the club Sevilla. He came through their youth system, spending four years at their academy.
In 2018, he was loaned to Premier League club Fulham for the 2018-19 season. He didn’t impress there and was called back to Sevilla the next summer. After spending the next season on loan at PSG, the club made his move permanent there for a fee of around €6 million.
He also spent the 2021-22 season on loan for La Liga club Mallorca.
For PSG he has pretty much been the third-choice goalkeeper. This season, with the departure of Keylor Navas to Nottingham Forrest, he was not loaned and kept for emergency cases.
In total, he has 24 appearances for the club with 14 clean sheets. Of those, 13 were in Ligue 1 with 5 clean sheets. He has 3 clean sheets in all 3 Champions League matches he played. He had no appearances at all this season, with Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alexandre Letellier ahead of him in the pecking order.
Sergio Rico will now miss the final game of the season against Clermont Foot. It is unknown currently when he will make a full recovery.
