AC Milan captain Mike Maignan has been discharged from hospital following a clash of heads with team-mate Alex Jimenez during Friday’s 4-0 Serie A win at Udinese.
France goalkeeper Maignan appeared to be knocked unconscious in the 51st-minute incident but, after undergoing treatment on the pitch, was fully conscious when he was carried off on a stretcher.
Defender Jimenez was substituted in the 72nd minute.
Milan players showed immediate concern after the collision, but defender Matteo Gabbia said after the game: “Fortunately, Mike is fine. We all asked the doctor how he was, and he reassured us by telling us that he’s in the hospital for tests, but he’s doing OK. He’s a great captain.”
Milan manager Sergio Conceicao praised the home fans for the support they showed Maignan, cheering as he was carried off the pitch.
“It impressed me. The player on the ground, the chaos around him… I have to compliment the Udinese fans,” Conceicao told Sky Sports.
Maignan was a victim of racial abuse by home fans the last time Milan played at Udinese in January 2024.
He and his team-mates left the pitch for 10 minutes after reporting the abuse to the referee, and Serie A later ordered Udinese to play a match behind closed doors as punishment.
“The player is one thing, and the man is another,” Conceicao said. “They can boo the player, but not the man.
“That applause was an incredible gesture. In 40 years of football I have seen few gestures like that.”
Rafael Leao and Strahinja Pavlovic scored for Milan in the first half and Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders in the final 15 minutes of the game.
Milan host Atalanta in the league on 20 April and face rivals Inter Milan in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final on 23 April, with the tie level at 1-1.
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