Sevilla defender Sanchez undergoes heart surgery

(GSM) – Sevilla defender Sergio Sanchez will undergo a heart operation in an attempt to save his playing career.

The 23-year-old, who joined Sevilla from Espanyol last summer, was forced to stop playing at the end of 2009 after he complained of chest pains.

The club and player carried out a series of rigors tests and now Sanchez has opted to undergo an operation at the hands of German heart specialist Doctor Sievers.

“Dr Sievers has explained the risks involved in having this important operation. There are risks because it is a complicated intervention, but he has also said that they are few in respect to the benefits that this operation can have for me,” Sanchez told.

“Such are the benefits that they go to the points where I will be able to continue my career as a footballer, which is what we all want,” he added.

Sevilla said on its Web site the operation would be performed shortly.

Sanchez’s case is especially felt in Sevilla following the death of defender Antonio Puerta, who collapsed and died during the first game of the 2007- 2008 season after suffering a heart attack playing against Getafe.

Daniel Jarque, the captain at Sanchez’s former club, died last summer aged just 26, after suffering heart failure while on a pre-season trip to Florence in Italy.