Real Madrid fear Marco Asensio could miss the entirety of the 2019-20 season, after suffering torn knee ligaments in the pre-season friendly against Arsenal .
The Spain international went down under an innocuous challenge with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the second half of the International Champions Cup clash in Washington - having scored for Los Blancos moments before.
A tearful Asensio was taken off on a stretcher and immediately driven to hospital, leaving boss Zinedine Zidane to admit his worry for the 23-year-old.
“We're a little worried (by Asensio),” admitted Zidane. "It's the knee. He went straight to the hospital to get tested and see. But it looks bad.
"It's the bad thing of the day for us. because we lose a player and we are a little touched, yes.”
Madrid medical staff are yet to reveal the full extent of Asensio’s injury status, but a number of reports in Spain have confirmed that initial scans showed a ruptured ACL in his left knee - meaning the ex-Mallorca youngster could be out for the season.
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has insisted that the injury makes no difference to the future of Gareth Bale, who he still wants to exit the club.
But questions were asked post-match of whether it could offer Dani Ceballos a way back into the Madrid team - with the Spain Under-21 star on the verge of a loan move to the Gunners.
Asked whether Asensio's injury could scupper the move, Arsenal boss Unai Emery said: "I don't know. Really our target in the match was not to take injuries and they have maybe a big injury with Asensio, it's bad news for them and also for us.
"I don't know if it can change something."
