Ruben Loftus-Cheek rushed to hospital for emergency surgery hours before AC Milan’s huge clash with Napoli
AC MILAN star Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been rushed to hospital for emergency appendix surgery.
The former England midfielder was expected to start in Milan’s crunch Serie A clash against Napoli at 7:45pm BST.
Loftus-Cheek felt severe abdominal pains overnight while at the team hotel in Naples, according to Football Italia.
Doctors sent him to the local hospital, where tests confirmed acute appendicitis with the need for emergency surgery.
Appendicitis can be potentially fatal if left unchecked, as the appendix can become so inflamed that it bursts.
The 29-year-old has struggled with a series of injury problems this season, making only 22 competitive appearances for Milan, in which he provided one assist.
In fact, he had only just returned from a muscle injury to face Como in the Serie A on March 15.
Before that, the former Chelsea star was out with a groin problem, leaving with only six starts from an available 14 league games this term.
But Loftus-Cheek was involved in late drama with his former England team-mate Dele Alli upon his return.
Alli – who plays for Como under manager Cesc Fabregas – was sent off 10 minutes into his club debut for a late lunge on his fellow countryman.
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The former Spurs star’s initial yellow was upgraded to a red after VAR sent referee Matteo Marchetti to the monitor.
But Loftus-Cheek and Alli found the funny side of it later that evening, with the latter sharing their WhatsApp conversation.
Writing at 11pm on Saturday night, Alli wrote: “Picture looks bad, I just tried to clip your heel.
“When the ref went to VAR I didn’t even know it was for me .”
Loftus-Cheek then added: “I stayed down because I was blowing.”
The pair were part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2018 Russia World Cup.
Loftus-Cheek has scored six goals in 43 Serie A appearances since joining from Chelsea for £18.5m in 2023.