Leandro Castan admits he was “scared” before undergoing brain surgery, but the experience brought him closer to Roma than ever.
The defender had to go under the knife on December 3 when a cavernoma was discovered – an irregular cluster of blood vessels in the brain that cause dizziness, nausea and are prone to bleeding.
“I was really ill that night after the Empoli game, as if I was sea-sick, but I thought that I was just tired,” Castan told TG1.
Leandro Castan admits he was “scared” before undergoing brain surgery, but the experience brought him closer to Roma than ever.
The defender had to go under the knife on December 3 when a cavernoma was discovered – an irregular cluster of blood vessels in the brain that cause dizziness, nausea and are prone to bleeding.
“I was really ill that night after the Empoli game, as if I was sea-sick, but I thought that I was just tired,” Castan told TG1.
“That morning I still felt bad, so I went to the doctor, we did some tests and found this bruising in the base of the brain.
“They told me I could not play football with that. My child asked why I wasn’t playing anymore and I was afraid of the surgery, but then I told myself: ‘No, as a father I need to set an example of strength.’
“After the operation, when they told me everything had gone really well and I did not have the cavernoma any more, that was the happiest moment of my life. I have to thank God, as without his strength I don’t know what I would’ve done. Now I am even more in love with this city and this team. My dream is to win the Scudetto here and the team is on the right track.”
Castan also revealed more good news, as his wife is expecting their third child, all boys.
Because of the delicate nature of the operation, he won’t be able to play again for around six months.