JOAO CANCELO has been cleared to continue playing football after the emergence of a potential heart problem.
It was reported by Spanish outlet RAC1 on Wednesday that a family relative of Joao Cancelo was diagnosed with a heart problem.
This prompted Barcelona chiefs to leave him out of their match against Atletico Madrid on Sunday as a “precaution”.
The on-loan Manchester City star underwent tests to check whether he had a similar condition and had kept him sidelined from football while it was assessed.
Fortunately for the 29-year-old, he has now been given the green light from doctors to return to football activity, with the results coming back declaring he was in good health.
It means Cancelo is clear to join up with Roberto Martinez’s Portugal squad.
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Before Cancelo had been cleared to play, former Wigan and Everton boss Martinez said: “We need to look natural. The noise is not a right noise.
“We are working, Cancelo is on the list for the second game, we are working on how to monitor the players as we do, we work with the club like Barcelona, but now there is no reason to be alert.”
The 2016 Euros champs have friendlies with Sweden and Slovenia over the international break, with their first game coming tomorrow.
Cancelo has played 50 games for his national team, scoring 10 goals.
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Meanwhile, he has played 32 games in all competitions for Barcelona this season with four goals and four assists to his name.
However, Cancelo may have ruffled a few feathers in the Portugal camp after claiming legendary figure Cristiano Ronaldo was past his best.
He told Portuguese outlet RTP: “He is an important player and spent 15 years competing with [Lionel] Messi for the Ballon d’Or, but the peak of a footballer’s career is between the ages of 25 and 32.
“He is an important player for us, but the national team does not depend entirely on him.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
