Due to heart problems, Lucas Leiva announces retirement
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Earlier this Friday afternoon (17), Lucas Leiva announced his retirement from football. At the age of 36, the now former player reported that he preferred to prioritize his health rather than put it at risk. After a battery of tests carried out in the pre-season, Lucas was sidelined after being diagnosed with a heart condition.
Away for three months and closely monitored by Grêmio’s medical department, the athlete redid the exams that indicated the non-practice of self-performance sport. At the Arena auditorium, in addition to his wife and her lawyer, the club’s president, Alberto Guerra, football vice president Paulo Caleff and doctors Márcio Dornelles and Paulo Rabaldo. Coach Renato Portaluppi and defender Pedro Geromel represented the group of players.
When starting the announcement of his retirement, Lucas began to cry and confessed that it was the first time he cried since he discovered the heart problem that could take him out of football. “I want to thank the club for the three months. I’m here to announce my retirement. I only have gratitude for this club. I am ending where I would like and in the place I would like. I’m sure my new cycle will be wonderful”.
When talking about his career and his two spells at Grêmio, Liverpool and Lazio, Lucas was straightforward: “When I look back, I wouldn’t change a thing. There were three clubs with a huge identification. It opens doors to my future. I’ve always been a guy with roots and I think I created wherever I went”, he summarized.
Lucas arrived at Tricolor in 2002, aged just 15, until he reached the club’s professional ranks in 2005, in the dispute of the second national division. The following year, he was elected the best player in the Brazilian Championship. In early 2007, he was sold to Liverpool, where he played for ten seasons. Afterwards, he moved to Italy, where he defended Lazio.
After 15 years, he returned to Porto Alegre to help the club that formed him return to Série A. With the Gremista shirt, Lucas Leiva played 97 games, scored 14 goals and provided four assists. In all, there were three titles: Campeonato Gaúcho (2006 and 2007) and Série B 2005.
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