Leandro Castan claims Roma stored his mind tumour prognosis from him, so he realized it from social media, then Luciano Spalletti humiliated him on his return to soccer.
The Brazilian concerning the second his world was turned the other way up in September 2014, when he pulled out of Roma’s Serie A match towards Empoli at half-time as a result of he felt unwell.
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The scenario deteriorated quickly and “I felt like I used to be dying” by the morning.
In a brand new interview , Castan gave additional stunning particulars of the occasions that adopted, together with the very fact he wasn’t instructed the prognosis.
“They despatched me residence after assessments, the membership physician was frightened, however he wouldn’t inform me what was incorrect. The primary 15 days had been the worst, I may barely arise, I used to be vomiting, I misplaced 20kg and had no power.
“Initially, Roma selected to cover every little thing from me. I made a decision to isolate myself and take away social media, however in the future I checked out my cellphone. An article on Twitter mentioned: ‘Leandro Castan has a mind tumour, he may die.’
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“The concern simply washed over me. I nonetheless didn’t know what was incorrect with me. No one had instructed me something, not the membership, nor the medical doctors. No one. ‘Keep calm’ was all they’d say.
“I then remembered my grandfather had died as a result of a mind tumour and I assumed my future could be the identical.”
Surgical procedure saved Roma star Castan’s life
ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 08: Leandro Castan (L) of AS Roma competes for the ball with Gonzalo Rodriguez of ACF Fiorentina in the course of the Serie A match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on December 8, 2013 in Rome, Italy. (Picture by Paolo Bruno/Getty Pictures)
Castan had surgical procedure to take away the cavernoma in his mind, but it surely took two years to make a full restoration from such an invasive process.
But it was the considered going again to soccer that prompted him to bear the operation.
“I needed to be taught to reside once more. I did every little thing I may to get again to the extent I had. Every part. It simply was not attainable.”
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Castro thanked Roma, coach Rudi Garcia, his teammates and the entire neighborhood of Italian soccer on this interview for staying by his facet.
“They supplied me the perfect medical doctors, paid my wage and renewed my contract even once I couldn’t play.”
The membership additionally tried to assist him get again to coaching, despite the fact that it was borderline unimaginable at first.
“The very first coaching session, they handed me the ball, I attempted to cease it with the only real of my boot, I seemed down at my foot and it didn’t transfer. I didn’t have management over my very own physique. I wished to get again to being the participant I used to be, and the very fact I couldn’t was not one thing I may settle for. It was killing me.”
REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – JUNE 9: Luciano Spalletti head coach of Italy gestures in the course of the FIFA 2026 Qualifier between Italy and Moldova at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on June 09, 2025 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Picture by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Pictures)
Not all coaches had been totally sympathetic with Castan’s scenario, as he painted a disheartening image.
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“Rudi Garcia protected me, he was like a second father, but it surely was more durable with Spalletti. Earlier than the Hellas Verona sport, he referred to as me and mentioned he wished to see the previous Castan. So I used to be within the beginning XI,
“Just a few days later, he referred to as me into his workplace and confirmed me {a photograph} of Frosinone. ‘That is your stage now, you can’t play right here. You’ll not play with me once more.’ The entire world crumbled on high of me.”
One other determine who was extra reassuring for Castan was Sinisa Mihajlovic, who went on to have his personal tragically deadly expertise with most cancers.
“On the finish of each Torino coaching session, he’d wait with me and train me methods to kick the ball. We spent hours collectively. I’ll all the time carry him in my coronary heart.”
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Now Castan is 38 years previous and learning to get his teaching badges in Brazil.
“I simply love the odor of grass on the pitch. There’s one other life in soccer for Leandro Castan. I attempted to avoid this sport, however I simply couldn’t do it.”