Milan-owned Gabbia knocked unconscious for Villarreal

Milan-owned defender Matteo Gabbia was stretchered off and seemed to lose consciousness after a worrying accident during Villarreal’s Europa League match with Rennes.

The centre-back was trying to head the ball when his teammate – former Napoli player Raul Albiol – went to clear it and caught him on the temple with a knee.

Gabbia immediately seemed to lose consciousness, but regained it by the time he was stretchered off the field.

He is likely to be kept in hospital for tests this evening and not return to Spain with the rest of the squad until he is given the all-clear.

Milan are expected to negotiate a termination of the one-season loan agreement with Villarreal to bring him back to base in January, as they are short-staffed in defence with multiple injuries.

Gabbia turned 24 in October and he is still under contract with the Rossoneri until June 2026.

He is a product of their youth academy with loan spells at Lucchese and Villarreal.