Former Barcelona and Everton star could be forced to retire aged 29 – 'There's a chance I'll never play again'

The last 18 months have been incredibly difficult for Gerard Deulofeu. The 29-year-old Spain international, who currently plays for Serie A side Udinese, has been through injury hell this term, and is currently recovering from a second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.

Deulofeu has struggled with injuries throughout his career. It is one of the main reasons why he left Barcelona in 2015, despite having a very promising start in Catalonia. However, things have gotten so bad in recent years, to the point that an early retirement is a serious possibility, as he told Jijantes FC (via MD).

“I can no longer do what I like. I've been away from the field for more than a year now. It's been very complicated. I can't say much, but it's a real test, you can't imagine. We've known for months that there is a chance that I will never play again.I am trying everything to get back but I have accepted the idea that I will not be able to play anymore.

“I do my best (to take care of myself). I changed my life completely to come back. And this is not going forward. Of course, when you have a knee that has been so damaged by so many operations, you want to rest. But since I want to play football again, I have to encourage my knee. This involves swelling, fluid coming out, and the line is very thin. It was hard, but I coped well because I am happy in my personal life, otherwise it would be a complete disaster.”

It would be a real shame if Deulofeu retired so soon. However, he has shown that he is a fighter, and he doesn't seem to be giving up anytime soon, which is great news.