Atletico Madrid star Robin Le Normand has suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of a collision during his side's 1-1 draw with Real Madrid.
The 27-year-old, a Euro 2024 winner with Spain, accidentally collided with Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni during second half stoppage time as the pair were contesting a header.
He received treatment before being taken off the pitch.
The extent of that injury has now been confirmed, with Atletico Madrid stating that he has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with subdural haematoma.
A haematoma occurs when a blood vessel in the space between the skull and the brain is damaged.
It leads to blood being collected between the skull and the surface of the brain. Surgery is normally required, except in a few cases.
An official Atletico statement reads: "Robin Le Normand suffered a severe blow to the head in the final minutes of the Madrid derby, for which he underwent a series of tests and was assessed by specialists.
"In the process of returning our player to competition, the guidelines set out in the protocol established for this type of trauma will be followed."
The NHS website describes a subdural haematoma as follows: "Blood escapes from the blood vessel, leading to the formation of a blood clot (haematoma) that places pressure on the brain and damages it.
"Head injuries that cause subdural haematomas are often severe, such as those from a car crash, fall or violent assault.
"But minor bumps to the head can also lead to a subdural haematoma in a few cases."
Le Normand, who was born in France, has collected 19 caps for Spain following his debut in 2023. He started the Euro 2024 final against England.
He has played in Spain since 2016, and switched international allegiance after gaining Spanish citizenship.
The centre-back signed for Atletico in the summer after a successful eight-year spell at Real Sociedad, which saw him make over 200 appearances in all competitions after his promotion to the first team in 2018.
Featured Image Credit: GettyTopics: Football, La Liga, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid
Ryan Smart