Leandro Castan hopes to return to playing after brain surgery before the end of the season, whilst he backs Roma to catch up to Juventus.
The 28-year-old underwent surgery in early December to remove a cavernoma, a cluster of abnormal blood vessels in the brain, and was initially expected to miss the rest of the season.
In an interview with Globoesporte released today, though, he says he may be back earlier than that.
Leandro Castan hopes to return to playing after brain surgery before the end of the season, whilst he backs Roma to catch up to Juventus.
The 28-year-old underwent surgery in early December to remove a cavernoma, a cluster of abnormal blood vessels in the brain, and was initially expected to miss the rest of the season.
In an interview with Globoesporte released today, though, he says he may be back earlier than that.
“I don't want to talk of dates to avoid creating expectations, but I have a goal and an objective and I think I'll be able to play part of the championship,” Castan has affirmed.
“I'm not saying two or three games, more like seven or eight.
“Two months from now I'll have another check-up and I'll get a sense of how my recovery is coming along. In the meantime I'm working in the gym and I feel fine.
“I'd like to forge ahead with a view of being physically at 100 per cent by the time I have my new check-up.
“This way I could start playing right away. I hope they give me the green light.”
Castan aims to return to the pitch “at the end of March” and is convinced that talk of the Scudetto should not be out of bounds.
“Of course Juventus are very strong and seven points make for a big gap. But there are still 18 games to go and I haven't lost my faith.
“We're strong too, we're just going through a rough patch, but I think that's normal in such a long season and it happens to every team.
“And I think that Juventus will go through such a period as well, so we'll be able to reach them.
“In brief, we're going to fight. And I hope to come back to help my team win the Scudetto as early as this year.
“When my contract expires I will be 32, but it's hard to make plans now. I'd like to keep playing here for a very long time, perhaps even retire here.
“I'm in Italy now and my life is here. My motivation? Seeing how much people love me here in Rome.
“I want to return this affection to all of Roma's supporters, and to the club too.”
The Brazilian was also asked about his odds of playing with the national team again.
“In the Brazilian Selecao there are some really strong defenders, but I'm almost certain that if I'd kept playing after the beginning of the season, then I'd have been called up for the early games after the World Cup.
“But we all know what happened and I lost my space. Still, I'm sure that in due time, after I come back, I'll be given a new chance with the Selecao.”