Real Mallorca goalkeeper Iván “Pichu” Cuéllar has suffered a serious head injury after a large structure collapsed on him in the canteen at the club’s training base.
The accident happened at the Ciutat Esportiva Antonio Asensio, also known as Son Bibiloni, before the team’s scheduled training session. The 42-year-old was taken to hospital on Monday for treatment.
In a statement, Mallorca said: “This morning, Ivan ‘Pichu’ Cuéllar suffered a serious head injury after a large structure, which formed part of the decor in the dining room at the Ciutat Esportiva collapsed. The player has been taken to hospital for treatment and will remain under observation for the next 24 hours.”
Despite the alarm caused by the incident, the club said Cuéllar was recovering well. Doctors were monitoring his condition and ruled out further complications.
The injury leaves Mallorca short of goalkeeping cover. Lucas Bergström is currently away on international duty with Finland, leaving Arnau Tenas, the club’s No 1 so far this season, as the only first-team keeper available. Tenas’s error led to the only goal in Sunday’s 1-0 home defeat to Almería.
Mallorca, managed by the former Espanyol forward Luis García, are preparing for Sunday’s Spanish second division match at Girona. Both clubs were relegated from La Liga last season and sit level on 13 points after seven games this term.