The Spanish centre-back is in hospital but not seriously hurt (Picture: Getty)
On-loan Arsenal defender Pablo Mari has been stabbed in a shopping centre attack in Milan, though the club have confirmed that he is not seriously hurt.
The Spanish centre-back, who is currently on loan at Serie A side Monza, was one of five people attacked in a supermarket in Milanofiori in Assago, a town in Milan.
There had been conflicting reports about the severity of the injuries sustained by Mari, but Arsenal have now confirmed that the 29-year-old is not seriously injured.
A statement read: ‘We are all shocked to hear the dreadful news about the stabbing in Italy, which has put a number of people in hospital including our on-loan centre-back Pablo Mari.
‘We have been in contact with Pablo’s agent who has told us he’s in hospital and is not seriously hurt.
‘Our thoughts are with Pablo and the other victims of this dreadful incident.’
Manager Mikel Arteta had been in the dugout in Eindhoven for Arsenal’s Europa League defeat to PSV when the news broke, but was asked about the well-being of his compatriot afterwards.
He replied: ‘I just found out, I know [technical director] Edu has been in touch with his family… he’s in hospital, he seems to be OK. Hopefully he’s OK.’
Mari has made eight Serie A appearances for Monza, scoring once (Picture: Getty)
Monza CEO Adriano Galliani – who, along with manager Raffaele Palladino, visited the defender in hospital – also gave an update on Mari’s condition.
He told TG2 RAI: ‘Pablo Mari has quite a deep cut to his back, but fortunately it did not reach any vital organs like the lungs or anything else.
‘His life is not in danger, he should recover quickly. He has some lesions, but not very serious. He is conscious and getting stitches.’
Two others are in a serious condition, however, after a 46-year-old man – who has since been handed over to local police – picked up a knife from the shelves in the supermarket at around 6.30pm and then started randomly stabbing people.
A witness told La Repubblica: ‘We were at the bar and we thought it was a robbery because we saw some boys and a lady running.
‘Then we saw more and more people with upset faces and we realised that something serious had happened.’
Mari signed for Arsenal in 2020 but struggled to nail down a starting berth in Arteta’s team, making just 12 Premier League appearances.
He was loaned to Udinese last January, where he spent the second half of the 2021/22 season, and returned to Italy with Monza in the summer.
MORE : Arsenal planning to hold three friendlies during World Cup break
MORE : Martin Keown and Joe Cole criticise four Arsenal players after Europa League defeat to PSV
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Spanish centre-back was one of five people attacked.