The Borussia Dortmund Ivorian striker is suffering from testicular cancer, the club announced on Monday, adding that he had left training camp for treatment.
By means of a Tweet, Borussia Dortmund has just announced that Sébastien Haller suffered from a “testicular tumor”. Arrived this summer at Borussia Dortmund, where he was to compensate for the departure of Erling Haaland for Manchester City, the Ivorian striker left the preparation of his new formation to return to Dortmund for treatment.
“Today’s news was a shock for Sébastien Haller and for all of us,” said BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl. The whole BVB family wishes Sébastien a full recovery as soon as possible and that we can hug him again soon. We will do everything in our power to ensure that he receives the best possible treatment.” Borussia Dortmund “requests that the privacy of the player and his family be respected and that no questions be asked” and promises to communicate “in consultation with the player (…) as soon as we have further information” .
Many precedents before Haller
Before the Ivorian international, other footballers had testicular cancer. The goalkeeper of the great French team of the 1980s, Joël Bats, had recovered, like the former Atlético Madrid and La Coruña goalkeeper, José Francisco Molina, in the early 2000s, also treated and became a coach afterwards. Another goalkeeper, the Argentinian Carlos Roa, was touched by this cancer. He was treated but ended his career. Newcastle’s Argentinian Jonas Gutierrez played “the most difficult match of (his) life” in 2014 against cancer, before returning to the field 18 months later.
The Australian Craig Moore in 2008 was also affected by testicular cancer, like the Bulgarian Lubo Penev, of the legendary team of Hristo Stoitchkov, fourth in the world-1994. He had been sidelined for two years before resuming his career. Dutchman Arjen Robben also suffered from this disease in 2004, detected when he arrived at Chelsea, but he was quickly treated. Basque defender Yeray Alvarez Lopez of Athletic Bilbao was also hit. He was able to resume competition on February 4, 2017, at Camp Nou, against FC Barcelona (3-0 defeat), the same day as World Cancer Day.