GERARD DEULOFEU has heartbreakingly admitted his career may be OVER due to the knee injury that blighted his time with Udinese.
The Spain international has suffered multiple setbacks - including infected cartilage - since he tore his ACL in November 2022.
And the 30-year-old has agreed to terminate his contract with the Serie A side, which he announced in an agonising social media post.
The former Barcelona and Everton star said in a video: “I tore my anterior cruciate ligament two years ago against Napoli.
"But [I] recovered and was able to play against Sampdoria despite the tear.
"The bad news arrived after that match, when I knew I’d need surgery.
“After that operation, I got an infection in the cartilage.
"That is tough to get over, because the bones grind up against each other and it goes beyond a normal injury.
“I have been fighting for two years against something that goes beyond biology."
Despite his repeated setbacks, Deulofeu is refusing to give up hope of one day returning to the pitch.
He said: "I feel better now than I did a few months ago, but we’ll see what happens.
“I have always had an incredible rapport with Udinese and it means so much to me that they supported and waited for me.
"If I do return to football one day, it will be with this jersey, for all that the club and its fans did to support me.
“We have agreed to terminate the contract, but the relationship and support remain special.”
Deulofeu joined Udinese in October 2020 following a two-season stint with Watford.
The Spaniard leaves the club with a record of 16 goals and 13 assists in 63 appearances.
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