Argentine defender Ezequiel Garay announced his retirement from football: “I had in silence very strong pains that prevented me from even walking”

Ezequiel Garay He decided to put an end to his professional career in the middle of a sensitive injury that prevented him from developing his last sporting years normally. The Argentine defender of 34 years He had played his last official match in February of last year with the shirt of the Valencia and then he began an extensive recovery process that did not allow him to return to the playing fields.

“For three years, I have been silent (together with a medical team) fighting and trying to solve a problem that appeared unexpectedly: “‘Clinical picture of left coxarthrosis, due to alteration of the cartilage of the hip due to constitution from birth overloaded by the practice of impact activity’“, He said in a letter he published on his account Instagram the footballer who played the seven games as the starter of the 2014 World Cup that had the Argentine team as runner-up in the world after losing to Germany in the definition.

In addition, he was a gold medal in Beijing 2008, champion of the 2005 U-20 World Cup and participated in two America’s Cups in 2011 (quarter-finals) and 2015 (runner-up). “Very strong pains that prevented me from even walking at times. Repeated infiltrations (required by me) to compete at the highest level. But they only had a single objective: to enjoy my passion, to compete and to bring joy to a whole hobby ”, he added.

“In February 2020, another serious injury was added from which I was recovering and I got it, to the point of negotiating with several clubs for my return. I can’t, I feel like I would be fooling that club, the fans and myself”, He acknowledged about the torn ligaments in his right knee that he suffered a year and a half ago with the Valencia jersey.

During that time, Garay sounded at Benfica, Liverpool, Almería and at Newell’s, the club that saw him born. However, the physical issue pushed him into retirement. It started with the Rosario club in 2004, but quickly migrated abroad. Passed by Racing Santander, Real Madrid, Benfica of Portugal, Zenith of Russia and finally ended up in Valencia. Although he showed a good level in that club, he ended up being free of action after his injuries. “I must admit that I would have liked and was convinced that my withdrawal would be later, but it could not be,” he accepted in the text that he published.

“I honestly started my career since I was little and I want to say goodbye to her in the same way. Proud of what I have done so far, grateful to each club that I have been part of and to the Argentine team. Each and every one of the colleagues with whom I have shared space and time, have made me bigger, happier, I have learned, cried and laughed. Hobbies that made me know what emotion is, enjoy with them ”, he signed.

“Today begins a new stage, a new life in which the essentials accompany me: illusion”, concluded in the post. Garay celebrated titles with the shirt of Real Madrid, Benfica of Portugal, Russian Zenit and also with Valencia. In addition, he was part of the Newell’s team that became the 2004 Apertura champion.

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