Serie B outfit Virtus Entella are in shock after striker Andrea Catellani was forced to retire due to a heart condition. “I must find the strength to turn over a new leaf.”
The 29-year-old forward had only joined from Spezia in January, scoring four goals with two assists in 19 Serie B games.
His previous clubs include Sassuolo, Catania, Modena and Carpi.
It was announced in a Press conference this morning that Catellani is forced to retire after medical staff discovered a cardiac arrhythmia.
Serie B outfit Virtus Entella are in shock after striker Andrea Catellani was forced to retire due to a heart condition. “I must find the strength to turn over a new leaf.”
The 29-year-old forward had only joined from Spezia in January, scoring four goals with two assists in 19 Serie B games.
His previous clubs include Sassuolo, Catania, Modena and Carpi.
It was announced in a Press conference this morning that Catellani is forced to retire after medical staff discovered a cardiac arrhythmia.
He will remain with Entella and join the club as a talent scout.
“I start a new adventure and must find the strength to turn over a new leaf,” said Catellani.
“I knew that sooner or later the ball would lose its shape and I’d have to move on, so I’ve been working to guarantee myself a future for a while now. The future begins today.
“I want to thank my wife, who has been by my side throughout and now more than ever. Having her close in these difficult days made me realise the important things in life beyond football.
“I want to thank my family and the family I didn’t know I had – Entella. President Gozzi showed incredible humanity, proving he cares for me as a person and not just an employee. That is priceless.
“I thank the club and medical staff, as my battle was their battle, and that gave me so much strength.”
Catellani reveals the cardiac irregularity was only discovered on July 14.
“The doctor said he had good news and bad news. The good was that my life wouldn’t change. I told him he could stop there, because if the bad news was that I couldn’t play football anymore, that was secondary.
“I’ll miss training, preparing the game and playing, but now I begin a new chapter of my life that I’m sure will be exciting and satisfying.”
The highlight of Catellani’s career was being joint Capocannoniere of Serie B in 2014-15 with 19 goals for Spezia.