Timo Baumgartl (26) still played for the Irons in the cup semifinals in Leipzig (1:2). He then served a yellow card suspension and was officially absent as “sick”. Even his colleagues didn’t know exactly what he had. Since Monday there has been certainty.
As part of a check-up, a tumor was discovered in the defender’s testicles, which has now been surgically removed, the club writes.
Baumgartl: “Fortunately, I have been taking preventative care for a number of years. I am very grateful for the quick, clear diagnosis and for the successful operation that has since taken place.”
Manager Oliver Ruhnert (50): “We will give Timo the best possible support on his way. Our excellent network of absolute top physicians will continue to be available to him. We are very grateful for that and therefore confident that Timo will make a full recovery.”
Further preventive follow-up treatments will be carried out at Baumgartl in the coming weeks.
Whether the native of Stuttgart will play again for Union is open. He is on loan from PSV Eindhoven until the end of the season. The iron have a purchase option, which is said to be 3.5 million euros.
But first of all, Baumgartl isn’t about football, it’s about health.