It was good news for Sunday Paolo Mari, the Spanish footballer stabbed by a man with psychological problems while shopping in a supermarket in Milan, in a tragic event that resulted in the death of one person and four others injured. The central scorer, currently at Monza in Serie A, was discharged from the hospital after an operation and three days of hospitalization, although under the observation of a “absolute rest” to recover from injuries.

Also, a few hours later, his former teammates Arsenal, leader of the English Premier League, sent him a heartfelt message dedicating him the first goal in the match against Nottingham Forest. Marí spent two seasons with the Gunners, immediately after winning the Copa Libertadores with Flamengo, in that memorable final against River in 2019.

The Spanish footballer suffered a back injury, very close to the lung, for which he had to undergo surgery to suture the injury and restore the muscles of the area. In the statement provided by his club, it is specified that he has returned home and will begin “a complete rest period”, which according to the information could last at least two months, before returning to training.

The 29-year-old central was loaned from Arsenal to Monza earlier this season and was treated at Milan’s Niguarda hospital after being attacked the day before while shopping with his wife and son in a hypermarket.

“Ac Monza sincerely thanks Professor Osvaldo Chiara and all the professionals of the Trauma Center of the Niguarda Hospital in Milan,” Monza said in a statement.

In an interview conducted by La Gazzetta dello Sport, he detailed the incident: “I was very lucky, because someone died in front of me. I was carrying my son in his pram when I felt a deep pain in his back. Then I saw a man cut a woman’s throat. “.

He also took the opportunity to send a message on his social networks to reassure himself: “After the difficult period we experienced yesterday, both my family and I want to communicate that luckily we are all fine despite the circumstances, and we want to thank all the messages. of support and affection that we are receiving ”, wrote the Valencian, happy with his partner.

For his part, Marí dedicated a few words to the relatives of the dead victim of the attack, the supermarket cashier who had the weapon stolen: “We want to offer our condolences and all our strength to the family and friends of the deceased person. and we sincerely hope that all those injured will recover as soon as possible, “he said.

In addition to Marí, four other people were injured in the attack on the man, known to have suffered from a severe depressive crisis for a year, even without being able to establish the reasons that led him to take a knife from the supermarket itself and transform the episode in a tragedy.

This was explained by the perpetrator of the attack, identified as Andrea Tombolini felt “envy” seeing “to all those happy people”to the public prosecutor who is dealing with the case and who has ordered his internment as a precautionary measure.

As the details of what happened became clearer, it was also learned that the man who first reduced the striker was another former footballer, the defender. Massimo Tarantinowith whom in the late 1980s he shared a team Diego Armando Maradona at Napoli and won Serie A in 1990.

The general manager of AC Monza, Adriano Galliani, asked in vain for the postponement of Monday’s match against Bologna for what happened with Marí. “The team is upsetwe asked the Lega to postpone the match, “Galliani told the media last Friday.

Local media stressed that the main problem to deny that possibility would have been to find a new date to play the match, given that it was proposed on February 9, just three days before the return match between the two teams. something that Bologna did not see with good eyes.

There was also talk of waiting two or three days for Marí to leave the hospital, but the decision did not convince Monza.

Who is Pablo Mari?

The 29-year-old defender, born in Valencia, trained in Mallorca’s youth divisions and has a long career.

He signed for Gimnástic de Tarragona where he played for three seasons and got promotion until he piqued the interest of Manchester City scouts and the UAE-capitaled English entity bought his pass to lend it to. first at Girona and NAC Breda. from the Netherlands, later. He was also loaned to Deportivo La Coruña. Until he arrived at the Flamengo.

The footballer won the Copa Libertadores 2019 at the Brazilian club by beating River 2-1 in a final that was defined in the last minutes with a brace from Gabigol. Mengao, through his social networks, expressed his message of support to the player who defended his shirt 30 times.

Subsequently, England’s Arsenal bought his pass, but not even he managed to gain a foothold and was once again loaned, this time to Udinese before and from this season at Monza.

The 29-year-old has only played 8 games for the team that achieved promotion this season and is owned by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. The defender arrived on loan to the Italian but with a clause that enables the purchase option.