Guayaquil, Ecuador - On March 23, the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) announced that midfielder Patrik Mercado has been ruled out of the national team due to an injury sustained while playing for his club, Independiente del Valle. This unfortunate news comes just days before Ecuador is set to face Morocco in a friendly match in Madrid on Friday.
According to a statement released by the FEF on their social media platforms, the injury occurred during Mercado's last official match with Independiente del Valle. The club's medical report confirmed that the player would not be able to participate in the upcoming fixtures. The federation emphasized that their medical team is in constant communication with the club and will continue to monitor Mercado's recovery closely. This is particularly significant as Mercado has been a regular selection under the guidance of Argentine coach Sebastián Beccacece.
Mercado's absence adds to the woes of the Ecuadorian squad, which has already lost forward Leonardo Campana due to a hamstring injury sustained during a recent match in the American league with New England Revolution. In response to these injuries, young player Elías Legendre has been called up to fill the gap left by Campana.
For the upcoming friendlies against Morocco and the Netherlands, scheduled for March 31 in Eindhoven, the FEF has summoned a total of 34 players. However, it remains unclear whether the federation will call up another player to replace Mercado. These matches are critical as they fall within the FIFA international window and are part of Ecuador's preparations for the forthcoming World Cup.
As reported by swissinfo.ch.
