In a deeply personal and emotional interview with Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, former Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu has opened up about his ongoing struggle with injuries and revealed that his football career may be coming to an end. Once a promising talent, Deulofeu arrived on loan at Everton from Barcelona during the club’s famed 2013/14 campaign, which was later followed by a permanent deal in 2015. Over his two-year stint at Everton, he made a total of 75 appearances for the Toffees. However, his journey in the sport has been marred by a series of injuries, leading him to temporary spells with AC Milan, Barcelona, and Watford before finally joining Udinese in 2021.
The Spaniard has been plying his trade in Italy since 2021 and has mounted an impressive tally of 18 goals and 14 assists in 68 appearances to date. However, the trajectory of his career has been significantly disrupted by a string of injuries. Most notably, Deulofeu has been sidelined since January 2023 after undergoing knee surgery.
In the candid interview with Romero, Deulofeu revealed the emotional and physical toll of the setbacks, saying, “With everything that happened to me, I became a health enthusiast. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do what I like anymore. I’ve been away from the field for more than a year: it was very complicated, but luckily I was able to make a big change on a personal level. I am happy with my change, for those who have been by my side and for what I have created in my life.”
He continued, “This is saving me because when you don’t have an organized life on a personal level, after such a hard blow, with so many operations on my leg… I probably would have fallen into depression. I had an injury in 2020, my knee was very traumatised but I managed to recover. I then suffered another injury, for a third time, and there were complications. I can’t say much because I have an agreement with the club, but I’ll just say that it’s a real ordeal. You can’t imagine what’s happening to me. For months I’ve known that it could happen that I won’t play anymore, and I have to accept it. I’m trying, though.”
Despite his uncertainty about the future of his career, Deulofeu expressed gratitude for the personal changes he has made and the support he has received during this challenging period. While acknowledging the possibility that he may never play again, he emphasized his determination to keep trying and maintain a positive outlook.
