I’m an ex-Premier League star who may have to retire at 29… says Deulofeu
FORMER Barcelona and Everton star Gerard Deulofeu has admitted he fears he will never play again after his latest knee injury.
Deulofeu, 29, currently plays for Serie A club Udinese but has been out of action since January last year.
4
Thirteen months after a grueling operation, the winger has admitted he is already planning for life after football as he remains unsure whether he can return to football.
Speaking on the Jijantes Twitch channel via Calciomercato.com Deulofeu said: “I knew for months that I might not play again.
“I haven’t been able to do what I love for a long time, I haven’t played for more than a year. I can’t say much, but I’m going through a trial.
“You can’t imagine what I’m going through. I am trying to recover in every way possible, but I have accepted the idea that I may never recover.
“In 2020 I had an injury, my knee was very traumatized, but I managed to recover. Then I suffered another injury for the third time and there were complications.
“I can’t say much because I have an agreement with my club, but I just want to say that it is a real test. You can’t imagine what’s happening to me.
“However, I am trying to recover in any way I can. But I am also preparing for what a career after playing could be.”
Deulofeu is still under contract with Udinese until June 2026 and Calciomercato claims he could be offered a role in the club’s backroom staff should he be forced into retirement.
HOW TO GET FREE BETTS ON FOOTBALL
4
The player was reportedly close to joining Antonio Conte at Spurs before the injury in January last year, but now 13 months later he is looking at retirement.
He went on to talk about planning a career change after football, saying: “Fortunately I have been able to make a big change on a personal level. I am happy for my change, for those who have been by my side and for what I have created in my life.
“This saves me, because if you don’t have an organized life on a personal level, after such a hard blow, with so many operations on my leg… I would probably have ended up in a depression.”
The winger did not elaborate on exactly what his plans would be if his latest surgery forces him to leave the game.
Deulofeu was loaned out by Barcelona to Everton ahead of the 2013/2014 season before joining the Toffees permanently in 2015.
He then left Everton to join AC Milan in 2017 before returning to Barcelona, so he has quite the CV.
Deulofeu joined Watford in 2018 and played a key role in the team that reached the 2019 FA Cup final.
Both Everton and Watford have expressed their support for Deulofeu on X after he went public with his struggles.
The winger responded to both clubs by writing ‘Love you’.
4