Emre Can reveals he had thyroid cancer when he was playing for Juventus and is ‘grateful’ to the Old Lady’s doctors for their early diagnosis.
The Germany international, currently at Borussia Dortmund, joined the Bianconeri on a free transfer from Liverpool in the summer of 2018.
He had to undergo thyroid surgery just a few months after his move to Turin.
“Emre Can will undergo clinical tests and investigations for a thyroid nodule that could also require surgical treatment,” the Bianconeri said in an official statement in October 2018.
The ex-Bianconeri star has now revealed that the surgery was due to a cancer diagnosis.
“I had thyroid cancer and I needed to undergo surgery urgently,” he told DAZN as quoted by Tuttosport.
“This has changed a lot in my life. You can have a lot of money, you can have everything, but health is the most important thing.
“It’s part of life and I suggest everyone undergo screenings, it doesn’t matter how healthy one thinks he is, if you find out about these things in time, you can act.
“I am so grateful to Juventus doctors,” continued the midfielder.
“They called me two months after my medicals with the club. I didn’t know what was going on, I didn’t even know what a thyroid was and I would never imagine I had cancer. The move to Turin was worthy, only just for this.”
The Germany international underwent surgery on October 29, 2018, and returned to action on December 7 2018, coming off the bench in a 1-0 win over Inter at the Allianz Stadium.
Emre Can left Juventus for Borussia Dortmund in January 2020 after struggling with playing time under Maurizio Sarri in the first part of the season.
The 29-year-old scored four goals in 45 appearances with the Old Lady, winning one Serie A title in 2018-19 under Massimiliano Allegri.