Mainz 05Mainz offer midfielder new deal straight after career-threatening injury
Elkin Soto was due to be out of contract at end of seasonClub offer veteran player new deal to cover recuperation
German Bundesliga weekend highlights – video
The Mainz midfielder Elkin Soto, who was due to be out of contract at the end of the season, suffered an horrific knee injury during his side’s 2-1 defeat to Hamburg on Sunday and was immediately offered a new contract by the club in order to cover his recuperation period.
Mainz had not intended to renew Soto’s contract in the summer and the player had planned to return to his native Colombia in order to finish his career there.
But after his 33rd minute injury – which was caused in a collision with Hamburg’s Rafael van der Vaart – he faces a substantial period out of action after suffering a total dislocation of his knee in which the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and meniscus were all torn away from the articular capsule.
Immediately after the match, the Mainz director of football, Christian Heidel, said the club planned to offer the 34-year-old midfielder a one-year contract extension. Soto has spent eight years at Mainz after joining them from Ecuador’s Barcelona Sporting Club.
“Initially he wanted to return at the end of the season to his home country,” said the club. “But from Mainz this deserving professional can expect full backing. Before the prospect for a new contract can become reality it is all about Soto’s recovery.”
“As soon as his operation is done, he could sign a new contract with us, immediately,” added Heidel.
Hamburg took the lead four minutes after play resumed following Soto’s injury, before his replacement Yunas Malli scored an equaliser 14 minutes from time. Hamburg’s Gojko Kacar then scored his side’s winner in the 86th minute.
“It was a very unfortunate incident,” said the club’s manager, Martin Schmidt. “We’re hoping that it won’t end Elkin’s career. You could see the effects of the incident during the game. Up until then we were playing well but after that we lost our rhythm. We talked about the injury and wanted to turn the game around for Elkin. We wanted more after levelling the score at 1-1 but then lost it all in the 86th minute. We didn’t have any reply to that.”
Hamburg’s manager, Bruno Labbadia, also wished Soto a good recovery.
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