Sunderland target Cabanas fighting for his life after being shot in Mexican bar
Published 15:15 25/01/10 By MirrorFootball
Paraguay striker and Sunderland transfer target Salvador Cabanas is fighting for his life in hospital today after he was shot in the head early this morning.
The forward was in a bar in Mexico City with some friends and family when he was injured in an apparent robbery.
He is now being treated in intensive care at a Mexico City hospital, the Mexico City prosecutor said.
"He was shot in the head... the first report is that the bullet entered the front of his head and did not exit," Mexico City prosecutor, Miguel Angel Mancera, told the news channel Televisa.
He added: "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.
"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."
The attack on Cabanas, 29, took place in the south of the city.
Club America president Michel Bauer revealed his forward was undergoing surgery.
Bauer added that he believed the attack to have been unprovoked, having spoken to Cabanas' wife who was present with the striker at the time of the attack.
"He arrived conscious and responded well to the questions they asked him as he was going into hospital," Bauer told Televisa.
"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."
The player is a prolific goalscorer for club America and was expected to feature in the World Cup in South Africa where Paraguay are in Group F with Italy, Slovakia and New Zealand.
He has been linked with Sunderland this month as Steve Bruce searches for reinforcements up front.
"I've monitored Cabanas. He's a fantastic player and whether a deal is possible for him, I don't know," said Bruce in the Sunderland Echo.
"He's somebody who would be of interest to us, but I'm sure if he became available, there would be a lot more clubs interested too."
