The Paraguay international Salvador Cabañas is in a critical condition after being shot in the head last night, Mexico City’s attorney general has confirmed. Cabañas, 29, was shot after an incident in the city and is in intensive care.

The Club América striker was high on the list of possible signings for the Sunderland manager, Steve Bruce, who had spoken of his hopes of signing the striker this month.

Mexico City’s attorney general, Miguel Angel Mancera, told the television 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.

“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.”

Cabañas is one of Paraguay’s most highly rated players and was part of their World Cup squad in Germany. He has scored over 100 times in the Mexican top flight and has netted 18 goals in 24 matches this season.

The Club América president, Michel Bauer, revealed the forward was undergoing surgery. He added that he believed the attack to have been unprovoked, having spoken to Cabañas’s 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.”

Source: The Guardian