Former Inter-full back Jonathan accuses the club of “serious negligence” in the treatment of his knee injury.
The Brazilian made just two Serie A appearances for the Nerazzurri last season, and move to Fluminense in the summer.
“It was undoubtedly the most difficult period of my career,” Jonathan explained to Globoesporte.
“I was out for almost eight months. It made me stronger as a player and a man though. Now I want to explain everything to the youngsters.
Former Inter-full back Jonathan accuses the club of “serious negligence” in the treatment of his knee injury.
The Brazilian made just two Serie A appearances for the Nerazzurri last season, and move to Fluminense in the summer.
“It was undoubtedly the most difficult period of my career,” Jonathan explained to Globoesporte.
“I was out for almost eight months. It made me stronger as a player and a man though. Now I want to explain everything to the youngsters.
“I don’t think I’m the sole repository of truth, I don’t know everything, but I definitely know more than those who are younger.
“I took a knock during pre-season training, the pains started from there. I played with those pains for three months, because the doctors told me there was nothing wrong and I could take to the pitch.
“I haven’t studied medicine, so I had to believe them.
“But I ended up seeing the situation get worse to the point I couldn’t even train, I was in pain even trying to climb the stairs.
“I got the injury in July 2014, and I had an operation in January of 2015. If I’d had the operation before I’d have recovered more quickly.
“To be fair to the doctors, I put the operation back a lot. It was a very difficult time for me, and I had doubts given that the doctors had convinced me there was nothing wrong.
“My contract was also expiring with Inter, and I knew an operation would reduce my chances of a renewal.
“I was coming off a positive period, I was playing for the club and morale was high. The injuries meant those things were forgotten, but that’s football, I can’t complain.
“Clearly God had something better in mind for me, but I’m shocked by the way I was treated.
“My rehabilitation was conducted entirely in Serbia, alone, away from my pregnant wife because I’d lost all confidence in Inter’s doctors.
“They showed very serious negligence, even if I don’t like to judge people. You can’t do an operation six or seven months after an injury.
“I have no problem with the club, only with the medical staff.
“Because of this I lost the opportunity to stay at Inter, they wanted to keep me. There was talk of a renewal, they’d gone to my agent, but they decided to wait for my return to the pitch, which never happened.
“Eventually my former lawyer was able to get the green light for me to train with Partizan Belgrade. Inter paid for the operation, I paid for the rehabilitation.
“I had offers from Italy, from Genoa, Atalanta and Torino, but my wife and I agreed that it was better to return to Brazil as our son was about to be born.
“It was also because the offers weren’t attractive, there were no talks with big European clubs. I wanted to come back and play at a high level. I was 29, many players come back when they’re older.
“I could have played for a smaller club there [in Europe], but here with Fluminense I can play in a high-level team and hold on to the dream of the national team.
“The Brazilian League is more competitive, in Europe the small clubs are much further away from the big clubs.”