Black Cats target Salvador Cabanas shot in the head

Jan 26 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

DAYS after Sunderland manager Steve Bruce expressed an interest in signing him, striker Salvador Cabañas is fighting for his life in an American hospital.

The Paraguay international was shot after an incident in a Mexico City bar yesterday.

Black Cats boss Bruce, who has a proven track record of signings from Central and South America, had been interesting in taking Paulo Da Silva’s international team-mate on loan with a view to a permanent summer move.

Bruce was open about his interest in the 29-year-old, who has scored 18 goals in 24 matches for Club America this season, although played down the chances of it happening. The player’s agent José María González claimed Sunderland had been in touch, and his client was interested.

Now, though, Cabañas is in intensive care in Los Angeles after being shot in the head.

The bullet is reportedly still lodged in his forehead, although he was apparently able to answer questions from the doctors in LA, where he was rushed by ambulance after the incident. He is also said to be suffering heart problems.

Details of the incident are still emerging, but it was reported to have taken place in Bar "Bar" in Avenida Insurgentes Sur, the

city’s longest avenue. Some reports claimed the incident happened at 5.30pm local time.

However, Club America president Michel Bauer, who has been in contact with Cabañas’ wife, Maria Alonso Meña, claimed it was much earlier with reports Cabañas was admitted to hospital at 5pm.

Cabañas, who was with friends and relatives at the time, is said to have become embroiled in an argument in the bar, which ended in gunshot in the toilet area. Other reports suggest he was caught in an attempted robbery.

"We don’t clearly know the motive behind the injury," Mexico City attorney general Miguel Angel Mancera told the media. "According to an initial report it was a shot from a firearm with a frontal entry point and without exit.