Bone cancer – it was a shocking diagnosis. In September, 19-year-old <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2024/03/challenges-continue-for-union-berlin-as-training-resumes-for-frankfurt-game/" title="Challenges Continue for Union Berlin as Training Resumes for Frankfurt Game”>Berkin Arslanogullari‘s illness became public. The former Union Berlin youth goalkeeper had to have his leg amputated. Now he speaks out.
Union Berlin’s youth goalkeeper Berkin Arslanogullari, who was seriously ill with bone cancer, spoke out for the first time after his leg was amputated and thanked him for his outpouring of sympathy. “I’ve had a hard time sorting out my thoughts and feelings over the last few weeks. And I don’t know if I can summarize them well in one text in my current state,” the 19-year-old writes on Instagram. A video shows Arslanogullari practicing running with a prosthetic leg.
In September it was announced that he had bone cancer. According to the club, the teenager received the diagnosis a few months ago.
Despite chemotherapy, the goalkeeper had to have his leg amputated to stop the disease from progressing. “The treatment will continue for a few more months. My job now is to get healthy again and make the best possible of my situation,” writes Arslanogullari.
More than 300,000 euros in donations
Union had called for donations to financially support Arslanogullari and his family after the amputation. To date, 320,000 euros have been raised, of which the Bundesliga club donated 20,000 euros, according to the gofundme.com platform.
“I would really like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart – preferably personally – to everyone who supports me and my family in any way. I am surprised and sometimes overwhelmed by the extent to which it has reached,” writes Arslanogullari. “When I am fit enough again, I really hope that I will be able to be there for others who need help. Just like it was done to me.”
Arslanogullari played in the Eiserne’s youth team and was in the Bundesliga team in a friendly against 1. FC Magdeburg. In order to restart after the amputation, a new apartment or extensive renovation work was necessary because the family’s previous apartment was not barrier-free.
dpa/mel
