ALEX TELLES has told how he suffered a fractured skull like Wolves hero Raul Jimenez in the early days of his career.
The Manchester United left-back bears the scar from a horror clash suffered while playing for Gremio against Internacional in Brazil in 2013.
Alex Telles bears the scars from his clash of heads while playing for Gremio in 2013Credit: AP:Associated Press
Wolves’ Raul Jimenez is recovering from his sickening collisionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Telles underwent surgery as doctors used metal plates and screws to heal his injuries.
And the 27-year-old can empathise with Jimenez, who is recovering after a sickening collision with Arsenal’s David Luiz in November.
Speaking to Inside United, Telles said: “It was from football, when I was playing for Gremio. It was the Gre-Nal derby, Fred was playing for Inter at the time, we were rivals.
“It was a high ball and I clashed heads with an Internacional player. I ended up with a depressed facial fracture here at the front [points]. It was a very similar injury to the one Wolverhampton’s Jimenez suffered. It was a very similar situation.
“I ended up fracturing this part at the front and my nose. It was a very difficult and complicated moment for me, but I also learnt a lot whilst I was out. I was out for about two-and-a-half to three months.
“I had to have an operation on my head to reconstruct the skull bone.
“The scar is now part of my identity, a reminder of my story for the rest of my life.”
Jimenez, 29, underwent emergency surgery after an unfortunate clash of heads with Luiz in Wolves’ 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The Mexican faces a lengthy rehabilitation but was spotted in the Molineux stands for Wolves’ clash with Tottenham last month.
He also made an emotional return to the club’s training ground.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has offered an encouraging update on Jimenez’s recovery.
He said: “It’s very good to have Raul around and to see him improve. It’s very nice to see him smile and already doing some exercise in the gym.
“He is having positive thoughts that he is going to return and join us, this is what pleases me and everybody around the club. We’re going to have Raul back.”
United hosted Wolves, without Jimenez, last month and ran out 1-0 winners thanks to Marcus Rashford’s last-gasp winner.
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Speaking ahead of the game, Telles sent a get well soon message to Jimenez: “What I can say to Raul is that unfortunately this type of scenario exists in football. It’s not normal but it happens.
“I’ve been through it as well and I’d like to wish him a lot of strength. He will definitely recover and, thank God, it wasn’t so serious and he will be able to get back playing as soon as possible, doing what he loves the most.
“Us players have to have this solidarity and I wish him well and that he gets better soon.”
Jimenez’s dad has insisted the striker’s injury ‘won’t have any consequences’ on his playing career.
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Raul Jimenez sees Wolves team-mates for first time since horror fractured skull as striker visits training ground
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
