Muamba: Never say never on return to football

Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba has not ruled out the possibility of returning to play professional football as he continues his remarkable recovery from a cardiac arrest.

Muamba collapsed whilst playing in a FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur on March 17 and his heart stopped for 78 minutes.

However, the 24-year-old’s stunning recovery after regaining consciousness allowed him to be discharged from hospital a month later.

He was invited to take part in a short ceremony at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, prior to kick-off in a charity match between Real Madrid and Manchester United legends.

Muamba told AS: “I am happy to be here and the fact is I continue to feel fine. I am improving slowly but surely.

“At the moment I am not doing exercise, I am just enjoying life and travelling. It is a great privilege to be able to live with the assistance of a respiratory machine or something like that. It is fantastic.

“I am making small steps every day. I am still being medicated and we will see what happens. I have to co-ordinate with my doctor and see what he says, but I’ll never say never.”

The former England Under-21 international also spoke of his recollection of the day he collapsed.

“The only thing I remember about the game is running back and falling,” he said. “I felt dizzy whilst I was moving back, very dizzy.

“It was a strange sensation, I felt like I was running inside someone else’s body and then I fell. My head hit the ground twice and I lost consciousness. I was dead.

“I didn’t feel pain in my body or my head. I didn’t feel anything. That happened on the Saturday and I didn’t wake up until the Monday.

“I have never watched the video because I am not yet ready. Now I intend to enjoy life. It is a miracle that I can do things like travel. It is a miracle because I shouldn’t even have lived, so everything that comes now is a bonus.”

The day after Muamba’s collapse, Real Madrid players took to the field for their game against Malaga with messages of support printed on T-shirts.

Muamba is especially thankful for the support he received from the football community worldwide.

“When I was in hospital Madrid sent me a shirt signed by all the players and it was a gesture I appreciated a lot,” he said. “Barcelona also sent me a shirt signed and dedicated by (Lionel) Messi.

“I never thought I would get to step on this pitch. To do so in this manner is an honour.

“It is the first time I have been to the Bernabeu and to do so surrounded by some of the best players ever, I don’t have the words to describe it. All the support I have received gives me strength.”