Rodrigo Bentancur update provided as Tottenham star taken to hospital after given oxygen | Football | Sport
Rodrigo Bentancur has been hospitalised after the Tottenham star was stretchered off during Wednesday’s League Cup clash with Liverpool.
Bentancur went down unopposed just six minutes into the game while attempting a diving header from a Spurs corner.
The 27-year-old received medical treatment on the pitch and was eventually stretchered off following a lengthy delay.
In a statement posted on X, Tottenham issued an update on the midfielder’s condition, saying: “We can confirm Rodrigo is conscious, talking and will go to hospital for further checks.”
Liverpool followed up with a statement of their own, adding: “@SpursOfficial We’re all thinking of you, Rodrigo. Speedy recovery.”
Brennan Johnson replaced the Uruguayan international for Tottenham, with 11 minutes added on to the first half following the injury stoppage.
Commenting at half-time during the League Cup semi-final, Sky Sports presenter Mark Chapman said: “The latest we have on Rodrigo Bentancur after that awful-looking injury in the first half, when he was stretchered off the doctors accompanied him to the dressing room and he is still in there with the doctors. That is the only update that we have at the moment.”
Just before the second half got underway, Chapman followed up with: “We’ve received another update in the last few minutes on Rodrigo Bentancur, who is conscious and talking and is on his way to hospital for further tests.”
The incident had caused panic among the players, given it happened when Bentancur wasn’t surrounded by any Liverpool defenders.
Describing the incident, co-commentator Alan Smith said: “There’s a lot of concern there. Bentancur went for the diving header, nobody challenged him I don’t think. I think he just fell awkwardly.”
Lead commentator Rob Hawthorne said: “Yeah, I think he stooped low to try and get his head on the ball and possibly ended up crashing into the ground and landing on his head which is a concern that Spurs could do without after such a bright start.
“Immediately players from both sides were urging the medics on such was the urgency of the situation with Rodrigo Bentancur.”
Smith concluded: “You saw the reaction of his team-mates, they knew their pal was in a bit of trouble.”
Bentancur arrived at Tottenham from Juventus as part of a deal worth £21.5million in January 2022.
He has since made 88 appearances for the capital club, scoring nine goals and assisting a further eight.
Bentancur had only recently returned from a seven-match suspension for a racist remark made about team-mate Heung-Min Son in a TV interview.
