MOSCOW, August 19 (R-Sport) – Russian premier league football club Spartak’s defender Salvatore Bocchetti will likely miss the remainder of the year after two devastating injuries in the same knee, the club said on its website Monday.
The Italian center-back injured his right knee with 10 minutes remaining in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Rubin Kazan. According to the Spartak doctors, Bocchetti tore his right ACL and suffered a partial tear of his exterior cruciate ligament also in his right knee.
He is expected to undergo surgery in the near future and it is unclear when he will return.
Bocchetti’s injury mars the Moscow club’s aspirations to win their first Russian title in 12 years, leaving them with just two fit central defenders: Marek Suchy, who has yet to appear on the pitch this season, and Juan Insaurralde, who has come on twice as a substitute.
The 26-year-old Bocchetti has started 15 Premier League games since joining Spartak in January.
Spartak coach Valery Karpin could look to midfielder Rafael Carioca or left-back Yevgeny Makeev to step in during Bocchetti's absence. The club has until September 2 to sign a replacement before the transfer window closes.
Spartak lead the Russian league after five rounds with three wins and two draws.
