Sebastien Haller: Borussia Dortmund star opens up on cancer recovery

Sebastien Haller, a striker for Borussia Dortmund, says he is doing “very well” while receiving treatment for a malignant testicular tumour.

The Ivory Coast international complained of feeling ill during preseason and was later given a cancer diagnosis. 

The 28-year-old is now on the road to recovery and is feeling optimistic about the progress he has made in a short period of time, despite his understandable reluctance to set a timetable for a return to action.

Haller has told ESPN: “I walk every day and check my body. I haven’t lost that much after two weeks. I’m even at the same level as a few months ago. That’s a good sign and I hope it stays that way. I feel very well.”

He added on a route back to competitive football: “Let’s just say now is not the best time to take that step, because it will take me a few months. The important thing is that I don’t lose too much muscle mass. I have to stay fit and a month before I return on the field I will do some work with the ball again. Now the most important thing is that my body feels good. My first goal is to be back on the field, to play for ‘The Yellow Wall’ and score my first goal. That will be a beautiful and emotional moment.”

Haller joined Dortmund in July in a deal worth €34.5 million (£29 million/$35 million), as the Bundesliga powerhouses sought to replace Erling Haaland, who was headed to Manchester City.