Former Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva announces retirement due to heart concerns

The
former
Liverpool
and
Lazio
midfielder
was
forced
to
withdraw
from
training
at
Brazilian
club
Gremio
in
December
after
the
discovery
was
made
during
a
routine
screening.

After
spending
some
time
to
evaluate
and
undergo
further
tests,
Lucas
confirmed
at
a
press
conference
on
Friday
that
he
has
decided
to
call
time
on
his
playing
days.

“Firstly
I
would
like
to
thank
Gremio
for
all
the
support
in
these
three
months,”
a
tearful
Lucas
said.
“Today,
I
am
announcing
my
retirement.

“It’s
been
a
difficult
period,
I
think
this
is
the
first
time
I’ve
cried
over
this
case.
But
I
can
only
thank
you.
I’m
ending
where
I’d
like,
not
the
way
I’d
like.
But
I’m
sure
a
new
cycle
will
begin.

“I
had
a
lot
of
hope
that
it
could
reverse,
but
it
was
not
the
case.
My
health
comes
first.”

Obrigado
por
tudo,

@LucasLeiva87
.

pic.twitter.com/8FbpPEI2UU

—
Grêmio
FBPA
(@Gremio)

March
17,
2023

Lucas
was
joined
by
Gremio
president
Alberto
Guerra,
vice
president
Paulo
Caleffi,
coach
Renato
Portaluppi
and
team-mate
Pedro
Geromel,
as
well
as
doctors
Marcio
Dornelles
and
Paulo
Rabaldo.

Dr
Dornelles
revealed
that
the
Brazilian’s
diagnosis
was
scarring
in
the
myocardium.
Further
testing
showed
no
change
after
three
months
away
from
football
activity,
and
as
a
result,
it
was
recommended
that
Lucas
end
his
career.

Lucas
made
337
appearances
during
a
10-year
spell
with
Liverpool
where
he
became
a
fan
favourite
at
Anfield
despite
a
difficult
start,
before
joining
Serie
A
giants
Lazio
in
2017.

After
leaving
Italy
at
the
end
of
last
season,
the
former
Brazil
international
re-joined
Gremio
–
the
club
where
he
began
his
career.

Gremio
won
promotion
back
to
Brazil’s
top
tier
in
2022
after
finishing
second
in
Serie
B,
with
Lucas
scoring
in
the
3-0
win
over
Nautico
that
clinched
it.