He had not walked on a lawn since last May. Struck down by testicular cancer revealed in July, Sébastien Haller, then in the thick of it with Ajax Amsterdam, was cut in his tracks by an illness that goes far beyond the footballing sphere. Eight months later, after a constant fight and a saving remission, the great Ivorian finally found the grounds in official competition, Sunday, with BVB Dortmund against Augsburg. And for the occasion, he proudly wore shoes stamped “F*ck cancer”.
Entering the game in the 62nd minute, Sébastien Haller was able to take advantage of half an hour to help his new teammates win 4-3, certainly without scoring, but the essential was elsewhere. The goal counter of the former Ajacide has already been opened last week, during a friendly match against FC Basel. Definitively recovered, Haller simply scored a hat-trick in… 7 minutes!
Operated in November, in the field in January
But before he could once again celebrate his performances as they should, Haller went through many stages. Unsinkable, the Ivorian international quickly got back on his feet, he who was operated on again in November. He then had to wait until January to return to collective training during an internship in Marbella.
“These six months have been difficult. Obviously, I’m happy to be here with the guys, to be able to train. You achieve a lot (during this period). You are going through times that you could never have imagined, ”assured the striker during a press briefing.
Transferred last July to Borussia Dortmund, Sébastien Haller thus finds the Bundesliga which he had known under the colors of Eintracht Frankfurt for two seasons. He had not played in this championship since May 18, 2019, the day he scored, as often for the man with 47 goals in 66 games with Ajax.