Toby Alderweireld has made a heartfelt declaration that he will do everything in his power to play one more game of football for his hometown club.
The former Tottenham Hotspur defender announced earlier this season that he was going to hang up his boots this summer at the end of his current campaign as captain of Royal Antwerp. However, disaster struck in the 85th minute of Sunday's 0-0 draw at Standard Liege when the 36-year-old went in for a challenge and felt something wrong in his thigh.
A scan on Monday has confirmed the news that Alderweireld has torn a quadriceps muscle. Such an injury normally rules players out for up to three months and the Belgian league season comes to an end on May 25 with a potential play-off match a week later.
"Recovery from such injuries often takes a considerable period of time, which unfortunately makes Toby's appearance in the play-offs uncertain. From today on, everything is focused on his rehabilitation. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Captain!" read a statement on the Antwerp website.
Alderweireld, who played 236 times for Tottenham, released his own heartfelt statement on social media on Monday evening.
"I never expected this… Right now, I don’t have the words for this," he wrote. "What I do know is that I will do everything I can to wear that beautiful shirt one more time. To be captain of the most beautiful club in the world one more time… It will be a tough battle against time, and I know I’m not on the winning side. I want to thank everyone for the heart-warming messages and the support I’ve received. You are all fantastic!"
The former Ajax man has otherwise had a dream end to his career at Antwerp since arriving in 2022. He won the Belgian Cup in his first season and then a week later scored a dramatic 94th minute goal to hand his hometown side their first league title in 66 years. The following campaign he led the team into the Champions League group stages for the first time in their history.
This season has been a farewell tour of sorts for the Belgian and football fans will be hoping that his last chapter is still to be written.
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