By DAVE MARTINEZ
Thing are not getting any easier for Rafa Marquez.
After missing more than half of the New York Red Bulls' matches this season battling injury and disciplinary problems, the Mexican veteran will now likely be out for the beginning stages of World Cup qualifying and possibly beyond with a right thigh injury stemming from a collision in practice.
Mexican national team doctor José Luis Serrano told reporters that he has a muscular distal injury in his right thigh and that an MRI revealed a Grade 1 separation of fibers that will require rehabilitation.
The collision happened on Monday, causing Marquez to miss training for the following two days. This will mark the second time in as many years that the Mexican defender has been injured while with the national team. Last year, his injuries caused him to miss significant time with the Red Bulls.
Serrano did not specify the length of time it would take for the injury to heal, nor did he speculate on a return to play for this cycle of qualifiers; however, the picture he painted looked quite grim.
“I can’t say exactly," Serrano said. "It is a very difficult region. It’s the region where you practically exert the most strength when you shoot or hit the ball. Therefore it is more dangerous. We have to be very careful. Until he starts training, we can’t realistically evaluate if he is ready to play.”
Mexico will continue with its run of friendlies as they take on Bosnia and Herzegovina at Soldier Field in Chicago Thursday night, followed by Brazil on Sunday at a sold-out Cowboys Stadium in Dallas before beginning World Cup qualifying against Guyana and El Salvador on June 8 and 12, respectively. Marquez will stay with the national team through the June qualifiers, undergoing rehabilitation before being reevaluated this week. The Red Bulls don't return to action in league play until June 17, when they face the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park.
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What do you think of this development?
Share your thoughts below.
K guys I no he shouldn’t have done it but shut up!
I just hope he recovers in time to play in the Red Bull/San Jose match in San Jose. I (and many others , I’m sure) have been doing breathing exercises so that we can boo at the top of our lungs any time he comes near the ball.
I wonder if a Mexican teammate took him out so that the team could avoid the political problem of benching him.
surely Mexico has someone better anyway. Not like I care, but even Mexico doesnt deserve him
“Marquez injured, could miss Mexico’s June World Cup qualifiers”
Good news for El Tri.
Any team in which Rafa is +1.
Agreed, I don’t want the guy to be hurt as he could be a good sub coming off the bench, but as long as he’s healthy Clever Hans will run him out there regardless or how poorly he plays. Dax has been excellent this season, especially when he’s playing deeper in the midfield.
If only Red Bull didn’t put Rafa’s face on a bunch of cans, maybe they’d consider selling him.
hahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhaha *takes a deep breathe hahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahhahahaahahahahhahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Excellent news. This means that Dax McCarty’s spot in defensive midfield is secure for the time being. Marquez is a serious downgrade from Dax.
my thoughts exactly. such a political mess–he really doesn’t mesh in their system anymore, but are you really going to bench him?
As I’ve said before, RB needs him gone ASAP and now is the perfect time to use his salary for younger players who really want to play.
you were waiting to say that weren’t you, fanny bandit?
karma doesnt happen till u die and come back to life
If NYRB cut him do they still have to pay him? Is his salary guaranteed?
i have had rafas back thru it all and now i give up ! 4.6 Mill can be spent on someone far more better and who would likely not miss half of our games. this is getting ridiculous
Hurts, doesn’t it?
no comment
wow. this guy is officially injury prone.
Mexicans everywhere breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Red Bulls need to cut bait
I know it’s wrong of me to say this but..
“Karma’s a bitch Rafa.”
I don’t cheer injuries even for players I can’t stand but I hope this injury is the last straw that causes this a hole to leave MLS.
Yeeeeeees!!!!!!! He is old, he has a bad attitude and he disrupts team union, his time is gone we will be better without him
Best paperweight ever!