An infection has sidelined former Barca talent Gerard Deulofeu. Yet even two and a half years after his last game, the Spaniard refuses to give up.
He went through the famous youth academy “La Masia,” made his professional debut for FC Barcelona at the tender age of 17, became Spanish champion and cup winner, and won the Europa League – yet Deulofeu hasn’t played a single game in over two and a half years.
The now 31-year-old has been battling the bitter consequences of a knee operation he had to undergo after an ACL tear since 2023. But giving up is not an option for Deulofeu, as the Spaniard made clear in a recent interview with the Guardian .
“I know I’m trying something special,” Deulofeu explained: “Perhaps it’s the most difficult recovery in history. If I manage to come back, it will have been more than 1,000 days. But I’m someone who takes care of myself, and I believe I can do it. If anyone can do it, it’s me.”
Last game over two and a half years ago
It was January 22, 2023, when the misfortune began. Two months earlier, Deulofeu had injured his knee while playing for Udinese Calcio against Napoli and left the field in tears. But during the winter break, the offensive player seemed to be recovering well. “It was bad, but not too bad,” he recalled.
So Deulofeu made his comeback against Sampdoria that day, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute. But his knee couldn’t handle it: “I had to ask to be substituted. The anterior cruciate ligament was completely torn.”
Deulofeu subsequently had to undergo surgery – up to this point, not an unusual procedure in football. But during the operation in Rome, he contracted an infection that made everything worse: his cartilage was damaged and the mobility of his knee was drastically limited.
An infection threatens Deulofeu’s career
The chances of returning to professional sports consequently decreased dramatically. “I knew in the first few months that I wouldn’t be coming back quickly. With every MRI examination, the cartilage had deteriorated. I had lost muscle, my knee wouldn’t bend properly, there was a lot to rehabilitate, and progress was very slow,” Deulofeu described.
For further treatment, the four-time Spanish international traveled back to Barcelona at the end of 2023, where everything had begun in the youth sector in 2003. There, cells from healthy cartilage tissue were transplanted into the damaged area.
In the summer of 2024, Deulofeu first attempted to return to the treadmill, then to the training ground, but it turned out it was still far too early for running sessions. Since then, he has been working on building more strength in his knee to minimize the risk of further setbacks.
Working on his comeback dream at Udinese
During the week, Deulofeu works hard every morning at 8 am at the Stadio Friuli in Udine for his comeback dream. He can count on the support of Angel Acena (Udinese’s fitness trainer), among others.
Although the Serie A club terminated Deulofeu’s contract in January 2025, they promised him support in his recovery and the possibility of a return.
The Spaniard appreciates this: “I’m very grateful to them for helping me and giving me the opportunity to stay here and work in this fantastic stadium.”
Deulofeu also used his forced break from playing to reflect on his career so far. He is “proud” and can see “how great my career was and is.”
Missed breakthrough in Barcelona
The 31-year-old is aware that there are voices saying he could have been more successful, but counters: “You also have to appreciate that I’ve already played for Barca and Milan, won the Europa League with Sevilla, played in the Champions League, played for the national team and scored goals, and reached the FA Cup final with Watford.”
However, it’s also true that Deulofeu couldn’t establish himself at FC Barcelona: the homegrown talent played only 23 professional games total for the Blaugrana.
In 2013, he was first loaned to Everton FC. In the following years, there were further loans to Sevilla, Milan, Everton again, Watford, and Udinese. The Italians signed Deulofeu permanently in January 2021 after impressive performances.
Deulofeu’s family supports him
Despite the many loan spells, the striker himself emphasizes that he can’t ask for much more from his career.
This also raises the question of why Deulofeu continues to work on its comeback despite the significant health burden. After all, he hasn’t only played for big clubs but also earned good money.
“Sometimes I think that too,” Deulofeu admitted. “But when I tell my wife that it’s too difficult and I don’t think I’ll come back, she says: ‘Let’s try, you can do it.'”
Comeback? “It will be a party”
With the support of his family behind him, the former international feels he has already come a long way: “I’m preparing to return to the training ground in a few months, and then we’ll see if I feel comfortable there.” If not, he might have to draw a line.
The thought of playing again in a top European league also drives Deulofeu in his ambitious endeavor: “I know that this stadium will be completely full one day when I play here again. I know what it will be like for this city and this club on that day. It will be a party.”