Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Sergio Rico was discharged from hospital on Friday, almost three months after an equine accident put him in a coma with a traumatic brain injury. The 29-year-old Spaniard has been at Seville’s Virgen del Rocio hospital since May 28 after an accident involving a horse at a local festival. “Really, the brain is intelligent and erases these types of events – and the truth is that... it has been a dream, I woke up here in the hospital and, thank God, today I feel very excited, very happy,” Rico said. “I hope to be available soon and recover day by day to return to football.”
PSG coach Luis Enrique gave Rico his best wishes. “I would like to send a message to Sergio Rico, who is leaving the hospital today and from here, from the club, we hope he continues his recovery, takes steps forward - all the club’s support is for him and his family,” Rico’s compatriot said.
After several days in a coma, the goalkeeper was discharged from the hospital’s intensive care unit on July 5. Five days later, the player posted a message on social networks to reassure people of his state of health.
“I want to thank each and every person who has shown me and sent me their affection in these difficult days,” wrote Rico on Instagram. “I am still working on my recovery which each day is getting better. I feel very fortunate, once more, thank you to everyone and I hope to be able to see you soon.”
The goalkeeper won the Europa League twice with his hometown club Sevilla and joined Paris Saint-Germain permanently in 2020 after a loan spell there.
England’s Walcott retires
from football at 34
Theo Walcott, one of the outstanding young English talents of his generation, announced he has retired from professional football at the age of 34. In an 18-year senior career the winger made more than 560 club appearances for Southampton, with whom he started and ended his career, Arsenal and Everton, scoring 129 goals.
He was controversially included in then England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson’s squad for the 2006 World Cup without having played international football. But he went on to become both the youngest player to represent England in a senior men’s international and, at the age of 19, score a hat-trick for the national side.
In all, Walcott – whose career was blighted by injuries – scored eight goals in 47 appearances for England. “The first moment I put my football boots on aged 10, was the start of a special journey for me,” Walcott wrote on Instagram. “The support shown to me throughout this time has been incredible in every way imaginable and I am truly grateful. I’ve shared the football pitch with so many incredible players and we have created so many unforgettable memories.”
Chelsea captain James out for ‘a few weeks’ with hamstring injury
Chelsea captain Reece James is set to miss “a few weeks” after injuring his hamstring in training this week, Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino said. The 23-year-old started in Chelsea’s season-opening 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday before being substituted in the 77th minute.
England international James’s career has been plagued by injuries. The right-back made just 16 Premier League appearances last season. James suffered a knee injury in October which ruled him out of England’s 2022 World Cup squad, before he was sidelined for a further four weeks following a recurrence of the problem during his first game back in December.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have signed Romeo Lavia on a seven-year contract from Southampton in the latest addition to their squad after the teenage midfielder rejected a move to Premier League rivals Liverpool. No fee has been disclosed but British media reports estimated the worth of the deal at £53mn, possibly rising to £58mn.
Lavia, 19, is the eighth player to join Chelsea in the current transfer window, with the London club, now owned by a consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly, having spent more than £350 million – although they have sold several high-value footballers as well. Belgium international Lavia has made 29 Premier League appearances.