Former Fiorentina” data-scaytid=”1″>Fiorentina and Roma forward Gabriel Batistuta has revealed the physical struggles he suffered after retirement.
The former Argentina international enjoyed a 17-year playing career at professional level and spent 12 years in Serie A, and remains the League’s 11th all-time highest goalscorer with 184 to his name.
Former Fiorentina and Roma forward Gabriel Batistuta has revealed the physical struggles he suffered after retirement.
The former Argentina international enjoyed a 17-year playing career at professional level and spent 12 years in Serie A, and remains the League’s 11th all-time highest goalscorer with 184 to his name.
However, the 45-year-old has revealed that since hanging up his boots, his physical condition dropped significantly.
“After quitting football, within a short time I found myself almost unable to walk,” Batistuta has told TyC Sports this week.
“I was 10 metres from the bathroom, but I wet the bed because I did not have the strength to get up.
“So I went to doctor Avanzi – the pain in my ankles was unbearable, to the point that I asked him to amputate my legs. I had seen Pistorius and told myself that that was the solution.
“The doctor did not want to, he told me I was crazy, he operated on the right ankle and luckily the issue has gone another way.
“We fixed the ankles with screws, in an operation – my problem is that I do not have cartilage and tendons – my 86kgs weight was on bone and I was dying from the pain. Then, slowly the situation has improved.
“The recovery has been difficult, long and tiring, but I am fine now. I’m also playing football again.”