Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller has returned to training three months after undergoing surgery for a cancerous tumor. The French striker underwent treatment for testicular cancer in July. Haller just joined Dortmund from Ajax in a deal worth around $34m this summer.
Although he moved away from the Dutch giants, Haller returned to training with Ajax. The 28-year-old striker asked to practice with the Eredivisie leadership due to the proximity of his rehabilitation. Ajax head coach Alfred Schreuder gladly agreed.
“He asked us if he could come to practice because he was rehabbing here,” Schreuder said during a recent news conference. “So of course it’s wonderful that she can be there for a while. He was able to train in a different field to help him with his recovery.”
Sebastien Haller makes a long journey back to training
Haller also recently opened up about his treatment process. “I spend five days in a row in the hospital, where I am connected 24/7, I cannot get out of bed while they inject the treatment into my body,” Haller explained to UEFA. “So, I have two weeks off. That’s a phase, and I have to do that four times. Four phases of chemotherapy that last approximately three weeks each.
“After that, depending on how my cancer progresses and how it spreads, I may have to have an operation,” the striker continued. “A lot of people ask me when I’m coming back, but there’s a lot to consider, so it’s hard to give them a straight answer.”
Haller only spent 18 months at Ajax before moving to Dortmund in July. However, the Frenchman managed to score 47 goals in just 66 games for the Amsterdam club. His excellent play helped Ajax win back-to-back Eredivisie titles before leaving for Germany.
An exact time frame for when Haller can play competitive games again may be a bit difficult to determine at this point. However, if no further surgery is needed after chemotherapy, it may be sooner rather than later.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Revierfoto
