Marí “lucky” after watching someone die in front of him

Pablo Marí, Arsenal defender on loan at Monza, was involved in a stabbing on Thursday that left him and four others wounded and one dead. Marí was with his wife and son at a shopping center near Milan when a man attacked him and several others with a knife.

Marí suffered from knife wounds in his back and is conscious in the hospital awaiting surgery. Monza CEO Adriano Galliani spoke with him in the hospital and recounted the details of what happened.

“He had the child in the stroller and his wife by his side,” said Galliani. “He didn’t realize anything. He felt like a cramp in his back - it was the knife.”

“Unfortunately, he saw this criminal stab someone in the neck. I don’t know if that’s the person who died. He saw everything. It’s disturbing,” he said.

Local media reported that the attacker is a 46-year-old man believed to be suffering from mental health issues. He was arrested after he was stopped and disarmed by retired Milan player, Massimo Tarantino, and is now being held in custody.

“Fortunately, he was stabbed in his muscles and not in his lungs or vital organs,” said Galliani. “He’s not in danger.”

Marí told Galliani that he wants to be back at practice on Monday. Monza, in shock over the news, has requested that their next game (scheduled for Monday, October 31) against Bologna be postponed.

“He is too strong, Pablo. He said, ‘I will play on Monday’”, said Galliani. “His strength is incredible.”

Galliani said that Marí, who is 6′4″ was saved due to his height.

“Pablo Marí told me he had ‘suerte’ [luck]. He used this word.” said Galliani. “He said, ‘today, I had suerte because I watched someone else dying.”