Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szscesny has spoke about the pain he’s been forced to endure throughout his career after breaking both arms.
The Poland international broke both forearms during his time at Arsenal in an accident in the gym. He underwent surgery and had metal plates inserted which have never been removed.
Szczesny says the injury is one of the reasons he retired at the age of 34 and admits some days the pain is very difficult to cope with.
“That was one of the reasons I ended my career. I’ve had enough of this suffering. There comes a time during training when I completely lose feeling in my hands and can’t even hold a water bottle because of the pain. Then the coaches and I joke that training is over because I’m crippled again,” he told GQ Poland.
“It’s not constant pain; it’s worst during the preseason, during very demanding training sessions. During the season, it’s easier because you do two training sessions, then a match, so your hands rest, and it’s not so bad.
“It’s a strange pain. It builds from the wrist to the elbow. I can’t tell if it’s on the inside, closer to the plate, or closer to the palm… as if everything inside my arm is trying to get out, as if it’s pressing from the inside.”
Szczesny did subsequently come out of retirement to play for Barcelona, winning La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup titles, and reveals how he effectively played for nothing last year.
The stopper explained: “I played my first season for free. The amount I received from Barcelona was exactly what I had to pay back to Juve for ending my contract early.”
