Luan: Luciano’s support and therapy key in tough São Paulo times | OneFootball

Luan, midfielder for São Paulo, revealed that he received help from forward Luciano while recovering from a serious injury at São Paulo. The player stated that the number 10 was his only motivation to continue treatment.

Right at the first training session of coach Rogério Ceni at Tricolor, in October 2021, Luan, an absolute starter of the team, suffered a left thigh injury that kept him off the fields. In June of the following year, he underwent surgery due to complications from the injury and went through another period of absence.

"After so much time in football, in the environment and with the people I liked to be with the most, I couldn't stand the idea of just watching from the outside just when I had so much to grow. In these times, it's hard to notice the dust covering us. I think it happens gradually. In my case, I was losing the will to go to the CT. I was almost quitting physiotherapy and, if I did that, the next step would certainly be to give up on myself," said Luan, in an interview with the portal Players Tribune.

"Who gave me strength during this time was Luciano, another great friend that football put in my path. He called me every day at 8 am sharp: 'Where are you, Pit? (Luan's nickname). I'm already here at the CT waiting for you. You're coming, right? You're on your way?' "

"I didn't have the strength to get out of bed, but I got dressed and went just for Luciano. Thanks to him I continued the treatment and recovered. Physically, at least," Luan reported.

Proposal from a rival

After recovering from injury, the player revealed that he received a proposal from a rival of São Paulo to leave the club that formed him. However, he never wanted to leave Tricolor.

"Remember when I said that the reception in Cotia would be crucial to help me make the biggest decisions of my career? So, after healing from the injury, I had some offers to leave São Paulo, including from a rival club," he said.

"A lot was said at that time. That I didn't want to stay, that I wasn't focused, that I was forcing the bar to leave. No way... I never thought about leaving São Paulo, I never saw myself anywhere else. As I wasn't playing, I didn't even have the chance to explain this to the fans. But the truth is that, out of respect and gratitude, I would only leave if it was a wish of the club," he added.

Search for therapy

After losing space at São Paulo, Luan was loaned to Vitória, in 2024, where he gained sequence as a starter. After the loan, however, the midfielder was out of the plans of the São Paulo club, a period in which he decided to seek therapy.

During the period, Luan went through an episode that involved Luciano, Jandrei, Alan Franco and Alisson. After a team game for the Paulistão, the midfielder sent messages to his teammates, who went to his house to help him. Luan, however, did not receive them.

"I locked myself in the basement and didn't come out to talk to them. From inside, sobbing from crying so much, I asked them to be champions. I felt a huge shame. Not for that depressing scene, but for not playing, not enjoying the day-to-day with my teammates, not being able to help them on the field and not knowing how to get rid of that impression that the whole world was against me," he said.

"That's when I decided to seek help and started therapy. Alone, I would hardly get out of my basement. It's been good for me. Today I understand that the pains that knocked me down didn't just come from a piece of bone lodged in the muscle of my leg. They are very old wounds, and they only stop hurting if I can talk about them. If I can "elaborate", as Rosana Costa, my psychologist, says," he added.

Comeback

Today, Luan reclaimed his place at São Paulo and has been getting opportunities with coach Hernan Crespo, essential for his comeback at the Morumbi club. Since the return of the Argentine to Tricolor, the midfielder has been called up and has five games.

"It was emotional in Crespo's first training. I told him to count on me for whatever he needed. If it was for me to start on the bench and enter only five minutes, it was fine. If it was to play 90, overtime and penalties, it was fine. If it wasn't even to be related, it was fine. If it was to be substituted, it was fine. I just wanted to help in some way. Crespo didn't promise me anything. He just gave me a hug and told me to keep working," he commented.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.