Sébastien Haller, a striker for the Ivory Coast, has returned to training at Borussia Dortmund after nearly six months away due to testicular cancer.
Haller said he is excited to be back on the pitch in 2023 in a post-Monday that included photos of himself working out in Dortmund’s facility.
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On Dortmund’s social media, he sent a video greeting that began,
“Hello everybody, I’m finally back.”
“I’m really looking forward to seeing you at the stadium for some triumphs,”
the speaker said.
“It was not that simple, but with your support it was better and easier to do.”
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Who is this player recovering from cancer?
It’s a tiny but important step in Haller’s still-difficult return to competition. The former striker for West Ham and Ajax had two surgery and chemotherapy.
The news Haller heard in July, while he was at an off-season training camp, absolutely turned his life upside down. Haller had left Ajax earlier in the month and joined Dortmund for 31 million euros ($32.8 million) plus any potential future expenses. Erling Haaland was expected to be replaced by Haller after being moved to Manchester City.
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The successive treatments, each requiring five days in a hospital bed, included four chemotherapy rounds. Haller credited his improved physical fitness as a soccer player for his enhanced resilience.
“I was an entitled child who never worried. This was my first significant challenge. Some people have that kind of life beginning. I can’t complain since I’m fortunate that it happened later in life, Haller stated in October on the UEFA website. We must remember that there is always someone who has it worse, and we must keep things in perspective.”
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