Chievo Verona midfielder Federico Mattiello was stretchered off the field with what appeared to be a severe leg injury in his side's 0-0 draw with Roma on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Juventus product, who is on loan with Chievo from the Serie A leaders, suffered the injury during a collision with Roma's Radja Nainggolan.
Mattiello was carried off the pitch on a stretcher and taken directly to hospital in Negrar, near Verona.
Players and clubs alike began showing their support via social media soon after.
Wishing you a speedy recovery, #FedericoMattiello! pic.twitter.com/k4A06F1Ab8
- JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) March 8, 2015
In bocca al lupo da tutta l'@OfficialASRoma al giovane Federico Mattiello, centrocampista del @ACChievoVerona #ChievoRoma @SerieA_TIM
- AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) March 8, 2015
Forza @mattiellofede siamo tutti con te! Riprenditi presto campione! pic.twitter.com/dN7rxnXdBo
- A.C. ChievoVerona (@ACChievoVerona) March 8, 2015
#Mattiello ti siamo tutti vicini.Ho appena visto le immagini...assurdo!!
- Claudio Marchisio (@ClaMarchisio8) March 8, 2015
Juventus club doctor Fabrizio Tencone has arrived in Verona to collaborate with Chievo as Mattiello prepares to undergo surgery on the injury.
Dr Tencone will work alongside Chievo's medical staff and hospital specialist Professor Claudio Zorzi before the player goes under the knife, a statement published by Juventus revealed.
Mattiello's injury took everyone at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi aback and, after the teams laboured to a goalless draw, the coaches sent their best wishes to the Italy Under-20 player.
Chievo boss Rolando Maran told La Repubblica Sport: "It was a horrendous scene out there on the pitch. The incident has upset us all a great deal.
"Federico has only been with us for a few weeks but he has done well and we can all see that he's a great lad as well as a good footballer."
Roma boss Rudi Garcia added: "The darkest moment in today's game was Mattiello's injury and my thoughts are with him."
Nainggolan, Roma's Belgian midfielder who made the well-intentioned challenge, expressed his sympathy on Twitter.
Mi dispiace tanto per ció che è accaduto a @mattiellofede in una normale azione di gioco.Tornerai piu forte di prima.Ti aspetto un abbraccio
- Radja Nainggolan (@OfficialRadja) March 8, 2015
Information from PA Sport was used in this report.
