Joao Cancelo was notably absent when Barcelona secured a victory over Atletico Madrid in La Liga over the weekend, as a precautionary measure due to concerns over a potential heart condition.
Cancelo, who has been a consistent presence in Barcelona’s lineup since joining on loan from Manchester City, missed the crucial match in Madrid. It was revealed through an RAC1 report that Cancelo received medical advice to abstain from participating. This precautionary decision was made because one of Cancelo’s relatives has been diagnosed with a heart condition, prompting club medical staff to investigate whether it could be hereditary and potentially affect the player as well.
In professional football, undiagnosed heart issues can pose serious risks to players’ health and safety. Instances such as Sergio Aguero’s retirement from Barcelona last season due to cardiac arrhythmia and Daley Blind’s diagnosis of heart muscle inflammation underscore the importance of thorough medical evaluations. Similarly, Christian Eriksen’s collapse during Euro 2020 and subsequent fitting of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) serve as reminders of the potential dangers associated with heart-related conditions.
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Tragically, football has witnessed instances where heart conditions have led to fatalities, such as the cases of Marc-Vivien Foe and Antonio Puerta. These incidents highlight the importance of proactive medical monitoring and precautionary measures to safeguard the well-being of players.