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By Ed Carruthers Published: 18: 23 AEST, 23 August 2024 | Updated: 19: 15 AEST, 23 August 2024 View comments Nacional defender Juan Izquierdo, 27, collapsed on the pitch during Sao Paulo's Copa Libertadores round of 16 tie against Sao Paulo in Brazil on Thursday. The defender was quickly attended by medics on the pitch and was taken to hospital after suffering a 'cardiac arrhythmia' - an anomaly of the heart's rhythm. The 27-year-old Uruguayan player had fallen to the ground in the 84th minute, with players from both sides calling for medical teams onto the pitch. Nacional have issued an update on his condition online, stating that Izquierdo 'was stable' and 'remains under observation' at the ICU at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil.     'Juan Izquierdo suffered an irregular heartbeat during the match against Sao Paulo, ' Nacional posted on X (formerly Twitter). WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT  Fuerte imagen de Juan Izquierdo, futbolista de Nacional, que debió salir de la cancha en ambulancia. Que no sea nada ? ?❤️ pic. twitter. com/DJI8zjft2V 'He is being treated at the Intensive Care Unit of the Albert Einstein Hospital. He is currently in stable condition and remains under observation.   The statement added: 'Strength, Juan! ' Nacional president, Alejandro Balbi, also issued a statement to El Pais from the hospital.   'He was immediately sedated and stabilized. A heart attack has been ruled out, but it is obviously a minor cardiac episode. He is under observation, ' the club president said to El Pais.   He added: 'The doctors say that because he is an athlete and young, he has a chance of everything returning to normal, but we have to wait and evaluate.   'He is sedated and they have to wait for the effect to wear off and then begin all kinds of evaluations: neurological and cardiac, according to what the doctors told us. '  The president added that Izquierdo's parents and representatives would be arriving in Brazil in the coming days. He also thanked the president of Penarol, who had, according to El Observador, sent a message of support to Izquierdo and his family.   'Much strength to Juan Izquierdo and his family during these hours, ' Penarol president Ignacio Ruglio said. 'Strength to him and I hope he gets out of the ICU quickly. We are all waiting for his recovery and in contact with the CNDF directors to find out about his health. Strength! !! ' Izquierdo had played for the Uruguayan Primera Division side between 2019-2020, with Penarol also issuing a statement of support on their X account, writing: 'Fuerza, Juan', which translates from Spanish to: 'Strength, Juan. '  Nacional president, Alejandro Balbi, also issued a statement on the defender's condition stating that Izquierdo was set to 'undergo further medical evaluations' The president added that Izquierdo's parents and representatives would be arriving in Brazil in the coming days Izquierdo (left) joined Nacional in January 2024 and has made 23 appearances for the club so  far this season   His former club, Penarol, issued their support to Izquierdo, writing: 'Fuerza, Juan' which translates from Spanish to: 'Strength, Juan' Nacional had gone 2-0 down in the match with Damian Bobadilla scoring in the first half before Jonathan Calleri followed up with the side's second in the 47th minute, with Sao Paulo going on to secure a berth in the quarter-final of the tournament against Botafogo.   During the 83rd minute, Izquierdo began to stumble before collapsing to the ground. Medical teams quickly arrived to treat the footballer, before an ambulance entered the pitch.   He re-joined the club from Uruguayan side FC Liverpool in January on a free transfer, having previously played for Nacional during the 2022-23 season. After a pause in play, the game resumed, with Emiliano Velazquez coming onto the pitch as his substitute.   Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group