Medics carry FSV Mainz 05 Elkin Soto off the pitch after his collision with Hamburg SV's Rafael van der Vaart during their German first division Bundesliga soccer match in Mainz, Germany, May 3, 2015. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE DURING MATCH TIME TO 15 PICTURES PER GAME. IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO IS NOT ALLOWED AT ANY TIME. FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT + 49 69 650050. - RTX1BCI9

Mainz midfielder Elkin Soto suffered one of the most sickening injuries seen in football for some time at the weekend – but was immediately offered a new contract.

Soto, 34, suffered a total dislocation of his knee in a match against Hamburg in the Bundesliga as he swung and missed at the ball, instead connecting with Rafael van der Vaart.

A club statement revealed: “He completely dislocated his left knee, resulting in his anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and meniscus being torn away from the articular capsule. Soto will remain in hospital over the coming days in order to avoid suffering from compartment syndrome. It will be decided in the coming days just as to how his treatment will continue.»

The Colombian was set to leave Mainz on a free transfer at the end of the season as the club did not want to extend his contract.

But in a brilliant gesture to the stricken star, they have now offered him a new one-year deal to support him while he recovers from the career-threatening blow.

Hamburg SV's Rafael van der Vaart (R) collides with FSV Mainz 05 Elkin Soto during their German first division Bundesliga soccer match in Mainz, Germany, May 3, 2015.  A Mainz club spokesman announced that Soto suffered a "total damage" of the knee which was completely dislocated.  REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach  DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE DURING MATCH TIME TO 15 PICTURES PER GAME. IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO IS NOT ALLOWED AT ANY TIME. FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT + 49 69 650050   - RTX1BDLV
Hamburg SV’s Rafael van der Vaart (R) collides with FSV Mainz 05 Elkin Soto during their German first division Bundesliga soccer match in Mainz, Germany, May 3, 2015. A Mainz club spokesman announced that Soto suffered a «total damage» of the knee which was completely dislocated. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

El mediocampista del Metz Elkin Soto sufrio una de las lesiones mas graves en el futbol este fin de semana, pero el equipo de inmediato le ofrecio extension de contrato por un año…

Elkin Soto de 34 años sufrio total dislocacion de su rodilla izquierda como se observa en la foto durante la disputa del balon con Rafael Van der Vaar…

el comunicado del club informa de una dislocacion total de la rodilla izquierda con rotura del ligamento anterior cruzado y el colateral, ademas los meniscos salieron de la campsula articular…Soto permanecera en el hospital y en los proximos dias se decidira cual sera el tratamiento a seguir…

El colombiano quien tenia la libertad para salir del equipo al final de la temporada, inmediatamente despues de la lesión, recibio como gesto brillante del equipo, extension de su contrato por un año, lo que garantiza el respaldo total del club Mainz para su tratamiento y recuperacion….