Cabanas critical after shooting

Cabanas: Gun attack

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Paraguay international Salvador Cabanas is in a critical condition after being shot in the head in the early hours of Monday morning.

The Club America striker, 29, is being treated in intensive care after the incident in a Mexico City bar.

Cabanas was conscious when he arrived in hospital and underwent surgery to remove the bullet.

Mexico City's attorney general Miguel Angel Mancera told TV station Televisa: "We don't clearly know the motive behind the injury.

"According to an initial report it was a shot from a firearm with a frontal entry point and without exit.

Heart problem

"The player is conscious but he has a heart problem which they're trying to stabilise.

"We're waiting to see what those arrested have to say. It seems that the attack happened in the bathroom of the bar."

Two suspects were detained although the motive of the attack is not yet clear.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce recently confirmed an interest in signing Cabanas, who was expected to feature in Paraguay's World Cup squad this summer.

Cabanas has scored over 100 goals in the Mexican top flight and this season had so far netted 18 in 24 games for Club America.

In 2007, he was named the South American player of the year by Uruguay's El Pais newspaper, becoming only the second Mexican-based player to win the award.

Having spoken to Cabanas' wife, who was with her husband at the time of the attack, Club America president Michel Bauer believes the attack was unprovoked.

"He arrived conscious and responded well to the questions they asked him as he was going into hospital," he said.

Encouraging

"It's a key point that can be encouraging, but until further notice we cannot speculate on anything at all.

"They wanted to assault him. I can confirm that that is what his wife has said - that it was an assault. There was no shoot-out nor any quarrel."

Juan Angel Napout, president of the Paraguayan football association president, confirmed they would send a doctor to Mexico to accompany Cabanas.

"We are praying for him," Napout said.

Cabanas moved to Mexico in 2003 with the Jaguars before being snapped up by Club America in 2006.

He has a total of 125 goals in 218 matches in Mexico after playing for Audax Italiano in Chile, along with 12 de Octubre and Club Guarani in his homeland.