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The Heartbreaking Reason Gonzalo Higuain Nearly Retired From Football in 2016

The Heartbreaking Reason Gonzalo Higuain Nearly Retired From Football in 2016

The Argentina was on the verge of calling it quits...

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Gonzalo Higuain has recalled how he was on the verge of packing in football completely in 2016.

The Argentine is making his Chelsea debut against Sheffield Wednesday after linking up with Maurizio Sarri once again, signing on loan from Juventus until the end of the season.

But nearly three years ago, after the 2016 Copa America he genuinely wanted to retire from the game because his mother, Nancy, was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.

Higuain was not told straight away and so felt guilt that he played in the final against Chile when he did find out. And upon hearing the news, he was fully prepared to give up his career in order to take care of his Mum.

"I decided immediately that I must stop playing football so that I could look after my mum," Higuain opened up in quotes reported by the Mirror.

"I suspected something was wrong at home during the Copa America, but it was still a huge shock when I was told the truth.

"I felt guilty, because I played in that final without knowing. My whole world came crashing down in that moment. I was not interested in anything else but my mum."

Football took a backseat for the former Real Madrid striker but his mother would not let him call it a day and told him he had to for her.

"I told her I was finished with football and if it had been down to me I would have stopped playing.

"Her reply was that when I played football it made her happy. She told me that she would not allow me to give up something I loved. She asked me to carry on for her - and I knew I had to grant that wish.

"My family and friends are everything to me. After that, comes football. People need to understand that. They see you kick a ball and they don't think you have anything to think about outside the game."

Higuain only scored six Serie A goals for AC Milan this season but he looked pretty sharp in a training video Chelsea posted on social media.

The 31-year old has previous under Sarri, having bagged 35 goals playing under him at Napoli in the 2015/16 season

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Topics: Gonzalo Higuain, Football News, Chelsea, Football, Premier League, Napoli, Argentina, Real Madrid, Mother