Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala has thanked fans for their overwhelming support after suffering a serious injury in the Champions League quarter-final clash against Paris St. Germain.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder fractured his fibula and sustained a broken and dislocated ankle following a collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Musiala was forced off at half-time and has since undergone successful surgery after returning from the Club World Cup in the USA.
In a video message posted on Instagram, Musiala addressed the incident and defended Donnarumma, who faced widespread criticism for the challenge.
“Thank you for the lovely support I got from all of you. Really means a lot to me,” he said. “It’s nice to see how the football world comes together in times like this. The surgery went well, I’m in good care. I want to say there’s no one to blame for this — situations like this happen. I’ll use the time ahead to build up my strength and positivity again. Looking forward to seeing you all soon.”
The incident left Donnarumma in tears, visibly shaken as Musiala writhed in pain on the pitch. Bayern captain Manuel Neuer, however, expressed his displeasure with the PSG keeper’s conduct.
“That’s a situation where you don’t have to go in like that. It’s risky, and he was willing to accept the risk of injuring an opponent,” Neuer told Sky Germany. “I went up to him and said, ‘Don’t you want to go over to our player?’ In the end, he did. But fairness is important — I would have reacted differently.”
Musiala is expected to be sidelined for several months as he begins rehabilitation. Bayern are yet to announce a timeline for his return.
