04.05.2015 12:29 h

Horror injury threatens to end Soto's career

Bundesliga side Mainz 05 has offered veteran Colombia midfielder Elkin Soto an extra year's contract after he dislocated his knee in a horror injury which threatens to end his career.

The 34-year-old travelled to see a German knee specialist on Monday and is expected to undergo an operation in the coming days.

He tore the cruciate and medial ligaments after dislocating his left knee during a first-half clash with Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart during Mainz's 2-1 defeat to Hamburg on Sunday.

He was stretchered off in clear distress and several Bundesliga stars have tweeted messages of support for Soto, who has played in the Bundesliga since January 2007, making 190 appearances for Mainz.

"I have been around for a long time, but I have never seen a knee like that," said Mainz's visibly shaken team manager Christian Heidel.

"If he wants to, he will straight away get a contract for a further year."

He made the last of his 26 appearances for Colombia in 2013 and the injury threatens to end Soto's career having told Mainz he had planned to return to his homeland when his contract expires at the end of the season.

"I am really sorry, it wasn't a foul and it wasn't intentional," said Van der Vaart.

"He hyper-extended his knee while kicking between my legs."