For some, it is a simple friendly match, but for him this meeting represents the end of a long nightmare.
A new start.
Sébastien Haller became a football player again on Tuesday afternoon.
A Borussia Dortmund player, finally.
After long months spent treating testicular cancer detected in July, the Ivorian international (15 elections, 4 goals) played for the first time with his new club, joined last summer from Ajax Amsterdam.
Substitute at the kick-off of this match, played under the sun of Marbella (Spain), where the club is preparing before the resumption of the Bundesliga on January 20, the native of Ris-Orangis (France) entered the game at the 74th minute in place of Youssoufa Moukoko.
A return greeted by the cheers of a few hundred supporters present on the spot.
If he did not score a goal in Borussia's wide victory (5-1) against Fortuna Düsseldorf, resident of German D2, the main thing was elsewhere for Haller who underwent chemotherapy and two surgeries recently. month.
Da isser!
😍 @HallerSeb pic.twitter.com/Q5n6YfwaSO
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) January 10, 2023
During these few minutes, the 28-year-old player, trained in Auxerre, showed great attitudes, great promises, like this clever pass for Giovanni Reyna (84th) and his framed recovery (89th).
“Seb is physically more and more sharp, savored Edin Terzic, his trainer, quoted by L’Équipe.
There is reason to be confident in view of our next deadlines.
He has been unavailable for many months, but he is hungry and he is determined to quickly find his best level.
His sense of purpose and his will to win will help us a lot in the coming weeks.
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After long months of fighting illness, then resuming training alone, Haller hopes to be operational on January 22 for the reception of Augsburg, in the Bundesliga and, above all, for the clash against Chelsea in the round of 16 first leg. Champions League (February 15).
His last official match dates back to May 15 with Ajax against Vitesse Arnhem (2-2), during the last meeting of the 2021-2022 Eredivisie season.
The next should be soon.