Karetsas Back in Full Dortmund Training After Villarreal Medical Scare
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas has returned to full team training after the medical scare that ended his Champions League debut against Villarreal earlier this month.
Why Karetsas’ return matters for Dortmund
The 18-year-old was taken from the pitch during Dortmund’s 3-2 victory over Villarreal on September 8 after suffering suspected circulatory problems. Having played a pass, Karetsas alerted the referee that he was in difficulty before sitting down on the field.
He left on a stretcher in tears and was admitted to hospital, where he remained for much of the following week. Dortmund have since confirmed that he completed individual work at the beginning of this week before joining his team-mates for Wednesday’s session.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Konstantinos Karetsas |
| Age | 18 |
| Champions League incident | Dortmund 3-2 Villarreal, September 8 |
| Latest Dortmund match | 3-0 win over Paderborn |
| Reported transfer fee | $34.6 million from Genk |
Dortmund said the Greece international’s Wednesday appearance was his first collective training session since he was withdrawn against Villarreal. The club have not disclosed a diagnosis or provided a definitive indication on whether he can feature against Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Karetsas, who was born in Belgium and joined Dortmund from Genk last month, said he had undergone extensive checks and was feeling well. In a video filmed during a visit to his former club and published on Monday, he said the tests had produced reassuring results, adding that he needed time to adapt to the physical demands of his new environment.
Belgian reports have suggested dehydration may have contributed to the episode, although Dortmund have not confirmed that explanation. Managing director Lars Ricken said there had been no prior signs of circulation-related concerns before the Villarreal match.
Karetsas was well enough to attend Dortmund’s 3-0 win against Paderborn from the stands last Saturday, providing a further encouraging step in his recovery.
What remains unresolved
Dortmund have yet to state the precise cause of the incident or confirm whether Karetsas will be available for Saturday’s league meeting with Stuttgart.
