Sneijder suffers serious leg injury

Real Madrid will have to do without Wesley Sneijder for the start of the season. The Dutchman suffered a serious leg injury during Sunday’s friendly with Arsenal.

A challenge from Abou Diaby left the midfielder down on the pitch, to be stretchered off minutes later.

Real Madrid chairman told Spanish news agency EFE that the player “at the very list, tore his internal ligament”.

And coach Bernd Schuster added: “Right now it’s very difficult. He is in a lot of pain and they have got to do tests. Right now it doesn’t look good.”

Sneijder grew to become one of Real’s key players last season, and will be seriously missed during a large absence. One that, according to the club, may last up to six months.

The player’s injury makes it more likely that Real Madrid will soon complete a deal with the other Dutch midfielder that has been dominating media reports lately, Rafael van der Vaart.