Brazilian goalkeeper Doni left Anfield yesterday, bringing to an end an unsuccessful two-year spell at Liverpool FC. Last week, the 33-year old admitted that a 'problem' existed between him and the club, and now it seems the mystery problem was health-related.
According to Italian newspaper La Gazetta Dello Sport:
"The Brazilian goalkeeper was forced to hang up his boots for serious health problems.
"On July 3, 2012, he almost died after having a heart attack during an examination by Liverpool's medical staff of the Reds.
"After 30 seconds, he recovered, but the problems had already been highlighted by Roma, who had recorded an arrhythmia during Doni's time at the club"
The problem highlighted by Roma clearly wasn't deemed serious enough to prevent Doni from joining Liverpool, but in hindsight, the decision to allow him to play on could conceivably have contributed to his heart attack.
It's a real shame to learn that Doni almost died, and after the Fabrice Muamba incident, moving to a comparatively minor league is probably the best course of action for the player.
After completing his move back to Botafogo yesterday, Doni said:
"I'd like to thank Liverpool. I regret that I will miss the atmosphere of the stadiums and the games, but to live and be together with the family is more important"
Good luck, Doni!
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy
According to Italian newspaper La Gazetta Dello Sport:
"The Brazilian goalkeeper was forced to hang up his boots for serious health problems.
"On July 3, 2012, he almost died after having a heart attack during an examination by Liverpool's medical staff of the Reds.
"After 30 seconds, he recovered, but the problems had already been highlighted by Roma, who had recorded an arrhythmia during Doni's time at the club"
The problem highlighted by Roma clearly wasn't deemed serious enough to prevent Doni from joining Liverpool, but in hindsight, the decision to allow him to play on could conceivably have contributed to his heart attack.
It's a real shame to learn that Doni almost died, and after the Fabrice Muamba incident, moving to a comparatively minor league is probably the best course of action for the player.
After completing his move back to Botafogo yesterday, Doni said:
"I'd like to thank Liverpool. I regret that I will miss the atmosphere of the stadiums and the games, but to live and be together with the family is more important"
Good luck, Doni!
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy
First of all I'm happy for him that he survived this and I hope he'll live to be a 100 in good health. Second of all I think this whole situation shows that Liverpool is a club that's ran by businessmen with enough heart to put their employees first when it matters. The other week someone on here blindly criticised the club for how Doni had been treated. The fact that this club has discretely handled this affair, keeping the player out of the spotlight, allowing him to recover in peace shows how wrong people are about these owners. They're no saints, they're businessmen but things like these show their class. We're very lucky with these owners and once again, all the best to Doni.
ReplyDeleteGood luck in the future Doniéber, put your feet up and look after yourself. YNWA.
ReplyDeleteunfortunate but still always put your life and family first stay strong Doni YNWA
ReplyDeletegood luck doni
ReplyDeletemind u he was shit anyway
ReplyDeleteur an idiot, if hed of died it wouldnt of made a difference to us he's wank at goalkeeping
ReplyDeleteNice post Prunelsgod,I mean What's wrong with you la?,The lad had a heart attack & you come with that,WTF...
ReplyDeleteI hope Doni is alright,but it beg's the question as to what our medical staff were up 2,to bring this on?,Perhaps Doni was lucky to have medical staff on hand when this happened.
ReplyDeleteI read on Gazetta Dello Sport that he has decided to retire for good instead of joining Botafogo. It's an unfortunate ending and we wish him all the best. As a Liverpool supporter, I could never fault his attitude and was there when we needed him to play.
ReplyDeleteDont know if you noticed in the lfc website when they confirmed doni departure they never said thank you and good luck like they do with all the others, that was quite surprising and disappointing to see and very disrespectful, they should apologize to Doni I think.
ReplyDeleteTerrible news, all the best Doni!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen last week he said that there were things he'd like to say about his time with us that he couldn't yet say, I thought it may become very unpleasant with a lot of dirt thrown. Well, this is unpleasant, too, in an entirely different manner. Take good care of yourself, Alexander.
ReplyDeleteSo he didn't join Botafogo after all, did he?
The examination with our medical staff in 2012 was a year after he had joined. He obviously didn't have the same problem when he had his medical when originally joining us.
Erm, he only wishes him good luck. What's wrong with that?
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear that Doni didn't die. We have had some unfortunate incidents in football where good people have died on the pitch. I have watched Doni play for Roma back when he was their regular starting goal keeper. Always wondered why he no longer started for them. I think that it's okay for him to hang up his boots he's got nothing to prove anymore. His health should be more important than anything else right now. He's played at the biggest clubs for quite a spell now and even represented his country in Germany in 2006 during the world cup. I don't think he should continue playing after a heart attack. Good luck to you Doni
ReplyDeleteAll Liverpool fans will wish Doni a long and healthy life with his family. Most of us cannot possibly understand the disappointment any footballer experiences when his career is cut short whilst still in his prime. Whatever he does I hope he is hugely successful and allows us all to know of his progress. Good luck and best wishes Doni.
ReplyDeleteOh just shows how life is so important, he knew it was best to go back to brazil, good luck to him in the future YNWA!
ReplyDeleteIm afraid Assaidi will end up in this way too
ReplyDeleteMay I ask....if anyone know whether LFC would give any form of insurance or assistance to such ex players. really sad to hear such news. He had good physical presence and I remember his sad face when he got red card in his first game ( forgot the opponent)
ReplyDeleteThink it was Blackburn, last year.
ReplyDeleteWe are talking about a human being's life here you prick. you should be banned from this site. This is not a joke.
ReplyDeleteI would assume his insurance should cover it. The club pays the premium and the player is entitled a payoff from the insurance co.
ReplyDeleteHe posted something in extremely bad taste about Doni prior to that, which got deleted.
ReplyDeleteWould like to know more about how its stated that roma were aware of a problem, wasny that the time to call it a day then? Thank god we havent saw a tragedy, lets hope the guy has success in whatever he chooses to do now & enjoys life back home with his loved ones :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the comments on here about the issue being well-handled by the club. Very discreet indeed. Good luck to Doni and you can look back on a great career over the years. Thank you for being there when needed - I guess it can't be easy playing when you know you have a health condition - shows grit. YNWA
ReplyDeleteI saw that. and immediately got deleted. bad taste is putting it mildly Jamie.
ReplyDeleteFootballers with so much training and fitness are also susceptible to heart failure. Very worrying indeed. It's been awhile since my last medical. Now is a good time if ever. God Bless Doni.
ReplyDeletePuts everything into perspective. all the best Doni!
ReplyDelete