Strootman: I want to say thank you to everybody

For the past 18 months, you have been injured and have undergone three operations. Could you tell us exactly what has happened?

“I think it is important to start at the very beginning. It happened during the international match against France. I had issues with my right knee and needed to be substituted. I didn’t want to take any more risk than necessary and left the pitch. Three days later we had a match against Napoli and I played. It was going OK but an unfortunate challenge caused me to lose my balance and I tore my cruciate ligaments. I think it took me about eight months to get me back on the pitch.

“I played in an away game against Fiorentina. I got tackled and caught my right knee again. I left the pitch without too much pain but the knee felt unstable. An MRI showed damage and that I needed surgery to see what was going on.

“During the operation they discovered that the problems with my cartilage were more serious than expected. It was a big shock. We gathered our research, went all over Europe - here in Italy and Holland in search of an answer. The conclusion was yet another operation on my ligaments.

“That I was so close to joining my team again and then having it all taken away from me… it was a big set back and a difficult challenge mentally.”

How do you feel now?

“We are now three months down the line. I’m training and I have to say it’s feeling a lot better. I hope the last steps in my rehabilitation will go the same and that I can join the team again quickly. After all, that’s what a footballer wants and what I’ve missed most in the last two years. Reconnecting with my team is something I’m working on - everyone is being very helpful and supportive. That’s how it was. This is my story.”

What is your daily routine?

“I spend my days with another player who’s also had the same surgery as me - the same injury: Elio Capradossi. We work together. We’re training together now. You compete a little during the day so it makes the day more fun while we work.”

Do you feel supported by the club?

“I feel really supported by the club. From the first surgery until now, they’ve always supported me – the directors, the coaches, my team-mates and everybody who’s involved in the club.

“Also the supporters. I get a lot of support from them - especially in the tough periods when I had to have more surgery again. The support I get from everybody feels so good and gives me a lot of confidence and power to come back. That feels really good too. If you get the support from the medical team, that gives you power - plus they have the knowledge to get you back playing - so that’s also important.”

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What’s the current plan for your comeback?

“We’re now three months along from the surgery and so far it’s been going really well. I hope to see where we stand after four months and then I can say when I can train with the team or when I can start something with the team. But for now, at this moment in time, it’s really difficult to say.”

Is there anything else you would like to say?

“I just want to point out that after the surgery by Professor Mariani - it was a really difficult operation for him. It’s the third surgery and it’s not easy but he did a great job and I feel good. I feel fit. I feel confident and I think that’s the most important thing.

“I didn’t feel this way before the surgery. The last thing I want to say is I want to thank the fans and everybody for the support. I get a lot of messages on social media – on Twitter, on Instagram and on Facebook. I know they’re always with me and I want to repay them when I’m back on the pitch.

“That’s what I’m working for. That’s why I spend my days here in the gym and on the pitch here at Roma. I just want to say thank you to everybody.”

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