‘Messi of medicine’: surgeon saves Hong Kong footballer’s career, thanks to David Villa
Eastern’s Dani Almazan ready for Asian Champions League after US$35,000 trip to leading Spanish doctor – on the advice of a World Cup winner
Eastern defender Dani Almazan has declared himself ready for this week’s Asian Champions League action after visiting the “Messi of medicine” to fix his injured knee – on the advice of close family friend and World Cup winner David Villa.
Almazan paid more than €30,000 (US$35,000) to have his anterior cruciate ligament repaired in Barcelona by world-leading surgeon Ramon Cugat, who had successfully operated on stars including Villa, Pep Guardiola, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Aguero.
Having resumed playing last weekend after an injury break of nine months, Almazan can now look forward to Eastern’s formidable-looking AFC Champions League Two opener against Gamba Osaka in Japan on Wednesday.
“I’m excited to feel like a footballer again, although there are still some nerves because you worry the injury could happen again,” said the centre-back, who made his comeback as a substitute in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Kowloon City.
The Spaniard, one of the local league’s best defenders, had been poised for a move to China League One before he tore his ACL at North District last December.
“When they first told me it was my ACL, I just said ‘no way’,” Almazan said. “I knew it would be at least nine months out. I had to be consistent – if I didn’t feel like going to the gym, I still had to go and work. If you don’t do it, you’re f*****.”