ian1964 10,720 Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 AC Milan's veteran midfielder Gennaro Gattuso insists his career is not over despite being blind in one eye. Gennaro Gattuso: Blind in left eye GettyImagesGennaro Gattuso: Blind in left eye â?¢ Blog: The Prince of Milan Gattuso suffered a paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve following a collision with team-mate Alessandro Nesta that has left the 33-year-old without sight in his left eye. The Italian has not played since being substituted in Milan's opening Serie A game against Lazio on September 9 but has vowed to come back from the career-threatening injury. "Football is my life,'' Gattuso said. "I'm a lucky man. Three weeks ago doctors told me there was a chance I might never play again, but now they are saying that is not the case and I will fight hard to return. "For a while I was seriously scared about my health and worried for my life. But now I have undergone several tests I'm calmer. It'll take more than this to beat me. The important thing is to not give up. "I feel an important part of the dressing room here. I feel respected after playing here for so long. My team-mates know I'm full of enthusiasm, so age is certainly not a problem. "As long as the enthusiasm is there, I can keep playing. I hope you will see me back on the football pitch.'' The 2006 World Cup winner, who has been at Milan since 1999, will be out for at least a further six months. "In 25% of cases the palsy of the sixth optic nerve occurs for unknown reasons,'' explained Milan's chief medical officer Rodolfo Tavana. "Often this kind of problem clears up by itself in a period of two to six months.'' Former Rangers midfielder Gattuso hopes his condition, which has affected his daily life, will improve. "Before I had triple vision, now I see double,'' he said. "There has been some improvement. I can train, but I can't play because I can't see well enough. "Right now I can't send an email, I can't watch TV, I can't drive and it's tough not to be able to take my children to school. "I will need to wait another four months before an operation can take place to resolve everything. "The important thing is to get back to normal life and to come out of this stronger than ever.'' http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/974460/gattuso:-i%27ll-come-back-stronger-than-ever-from-eye-injury?cc=5739 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 0 Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Didn't know about this till yesterday. A real shame and I met the guy many years ago in his Rangers days - shy shy wee thing and you could say he changed somewhat. Some Milan fans really hate him though, and are revelling in his health issues such is their desire for him not to play for Milan. This attitude shocks and disgusts me. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Ally 0 Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Didn't know about this till yesterday. A real shame and I met the guy many years ago in his Rangers days - shy shy wee thing and you could say he changed somewhat. Some Milan fans really hate him though, and are revelling in his health issues such is their desire for him not to play for Milan. This attitude shocks and disgusts me. Bizarre with all that he has achieved there. First I heard of this was yesterday too. Great shame. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 0 Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Apparently he's not actually blind in one eye after all - it's double vision caused by optic nerve damage. But yes, there is a minority of Milan fans who really do not like Gattuso - the majority like him and acknowledge his contribution even if we probably wouldn't pick him in the starting 11 any more. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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