The 2023/2024 preseason is turning out to be one of the strangest in Spanish football in recent years. Every day that passes, a new out-of-the-ordinary point fills the days leading up to the start of the new league championship: from unexpected defeats by Betis and Villarreal, through the huge score that Celta endorsed Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, to the medical problems in the Barça squad. Some events to which another occurred this past dawn.
Shaka Hislop, former Newcastle United goalkeeper and ESPN analyst, fell unconscious to the ground ahead of the match between AC Milan and Real Madrid in Los Angeles. The one who was international with the Trinidad and Tobago team was commenting on the keys to the duel between the Rossoneri and the whites when he began to wobble. Unable to control his body, Hislop plummeted onto the Rose Bowl turf, with his teammate Dan Thomas having to call for assistance.
The North American chain immediately went to a publicity cut so that they could take their analyst without major complications. During the break in the match, Thomas was able to send an update to the spectators on his condition. “Is aware. He is talking. I think he’s a little embarrassed. He has repeatedly apologized. He is not the type of man who likes to have a ball around him, ”commented the reporter.
“Of course it is still early to make any kind of diagnosis, but the important thing is that Shaka is conscious and we also spoke with his family, because imagine seeing that live,” added Thomas. The medical center that treated him in Pasadena did not reveal the causes of the fainting either, but from the BBC they pointed out that temperatures in California would be around 30 degrees during the weekend, a factor that they still do not know if it was decisive.
These health problems in the run-up to the Real Madrid game are added to those that the Fútbol Club Barcelona squad is suffering. The team led by Xavi Hernández had to suspend their duel against Juventus due to an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis that would affect a dozen members of the expedition. According to sources close to the club, the problems would be stabilizing and would allow Barça to play this Wednesday against Arsenal.
As regards Real Madrid, the team coached by Carlo Ancelotti opened the preseason with a win and a comeback against Milan. The madridistas did not start well, with Tomori and Luka Romero putting the Italians ahead before the break. However, Fede Valverde with a brace and Vinícius six minutes from time turned the score around, giving the Madrid team a positive start. If all goes well, Madrid and Barcelona will meet this Saturday in Dallas.
