América and Peru at loggerheads over Pedro Aquino's latest injury | OneFootball

América are livid with Peru after Pedro Aquino returned from international duty with a quad injury that jeopardises his chances of playing in the Liguilla.

The midfielder had missed the end of the regular Apertura season due to a hamstring problem.

He was introduced as a 77th minute substitute against Venezuela on Tuesday, but lasted just 12 minutes before being stretchered off in the 2-1 win in Caracas for La Blanquirroja.

Speaking to MARCA Claro, América chairman Santiago Baños was highly critical of the decision to call the 26-year-old up.

“We asked the Peruvian national team to rehabilitate Pedro here, but they ignored him. They make him play, and we will lose him for the Liguilla. It is a lack of respect,” Baños said.

The Azulcrema had released a statement on Thursday about the player’s condition.

“América reports that, after applying a series of studies to the player Pedro Aquino, the medical team confirmed a muscle injury in the left rectus femoris,” the statement read.

“The footballer’s recovery time will be according to his evolution.”

When asked about the situation after the game against Venezuela, Peru manager Ricardo Gareca insisted that they were perfectly within their rights to play Aquino.

“It was a fatality what happened and we deeply regret it in that regard,” the Argentine said.

“It was a totally different injury than what he had. So the injury that he had was 100% recovered.

“We have an excellent relationship with all the clubs, and we understand the concern of each club and any statement they make and any situation that arises, we will always collaborate with everyone.”

Those words are unlikely to reduce the anger of Las Águilas, who will be watching this weekend’s repechaje closely to see who they will face in the quarter-finals.