Two years in the past, Virginia Torresilla, now 27, was dwelling life to the fullest as knowledgeable footballer, coaching with Atletico Madrid and dreaming of the following World Cup with Spain. Then got here 2020. The pandemic hit, however there was extra troubling information for the younger midfielder: she came upon she had most cancers.
Soccer quickly took a again seat. “After I was recognized with most cancers, it was apparent that the very first thing I considered was dwelling. Soccer went from being my precedence in life to being fifth or sixth for me,” Torricella stated in an interview with ESPN.
The Atleti participant was recognized with most cancers within the spring of 2020. It began with a collection of complications and neck ache, which prompted her to bear an examination to get to the foundation of her drawback. Medical doctors found a mind tumor. After present process the surgical procedure, Torrecilla posted a video on her Instagram account explaining the state of affairs and commenting that she is worked up to win the “most necessary match of her life”.
She introduced to her followers on social media that she can be away from the sport longer than anticipated, with the caption “I will be again! For now, I will be an additional fan within the crowd,” the midfielder wrote.
Medical doctors predicted that Torresilla would battle to return to the game to which she had devoted her life. In spite of everything, the midfielder had already made a splash in 2012 as one of many youngest gamers to make an look in Fútbol Femenino’s top-flight soccer (generally known as Superliga Female on the time) when she joined the UD Collerense first workforce on the age of 15. With Months handed and chemotherapy, she saved dreaming of returning to the sphere.
“They had been telling me I might have the ability to play once more as a result of every thing was going properly and I used to be excited,” she stated. “On the finish of the day, my precedence was my restoration, my well being, and above all. [to] Dwell, however there comes a second after they inform you it’ll cross. With that got here my motivation to play soccer once more and be the Virginia that I used to be earlier than.”
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The gamers confirmed their assist all through the therapy – Diego Costa celebrated a purpose Hold on to her number 14 shirt – And in October 2020, Torricella made her public debut on the membership, and was met with a non-public message within the press room: “For you, for Ver, for everybody. Atleti.”
She was making progress on the street to restoration final yr when life threw her one other private problem: On June 3, 2023, Torricella and her mom, Marie, had been concerned in a automotive accident that left her mom paralyzed from the waist down. Torresilla, who was unhurt within the accident, described the incident on her social media.
“I completely bear in mind how my mom advised me she could not really feel her legs whereas blood was spurting out of her brow. After these final two years we have been via,” she continued, “After my sickness, it is true I used to be via most cancers, however what I lived via with my mom was horrible. I can not clarify It is as a result of it is one thing I by no means want for anybody, and when it is you who is not going via it and you’ll’t do something to assist, it is actually onerous.”
Thankfully, Torrecilla’s mom does properly at house and now her daughter is aware of the place all her energy comes from. “She’s a fighter,” stated Torricella, with a proud smile, “and anybody who asks the place I acquired the energy to battle, right here she is—it is my father.”
Not leaving her father behind, Torricella talked about how he performed an necessary function over the previous two years as properly. “He is the spirit of this household. He is at all times executed somewhat little bit of every thing, however I actually notice he is a real warrior.”
You’d assume Torrecilla want to overlook the previous two years, these challenges have been used as alternatives for private progress.
“If I used to be in Virginia 2.0 earlier than, now comes Virginia 4.0. I want to enhance in a variety of elements, and I do. I’m not the Virginia that I used to be earlier than. I’ve improved lots in lots of elements, particularly on a private degree… Life places many obstacles in your journey [that you must] Overcome it, and I believe I am doing it.”
This January, Virginia 4.0 is again within the lovely recreation. She did so within the Ladies’s Tremendous Cup closing between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, enjoying her first minutes because the analysis. After the match misplaced by Atleti, her teammates and Barcelona gamers alike celebrated Torricella’s comeback by throwing her within the air.
“I believe my first comeback that so many individuals have been ready for, which I dreamed of after being off the sphere for thus lengthy, was one thing actually particular and one thing I by no means imagined,” she stated. “I by no means thought I might undergo what I went via and the way everybody supported me in spite of everything and cheered me on the best way they did… the best way the opposing workforce did.”
Torricella returned to La Liga a number of weeks later, whereas Atletico Madrid prolonged her contract till the summer time.
“I do know I’ve to maintain working and get higher,” she stated. “I am working to win minutes on the pitch and I am very joyful and pleased with every thing we have achieved.”
The minutes of successful with Atletico Madrid imply working in direction of her purpose as properly to return to the nationwide workforce to play for Spain at Euro 2023 this summer time beneath coach Jorge Velda. “[He] “I’ve been there all through my sickness – not simply him, however the entire teaching employees. They’ve included me in all their matches with my jersey or bracelet, and I’ve been concerned in pre-game conversations via FaceTime. I actually respect it from the underside of my coronary heart,” Torricella stated.
The previous Spain captain needs to be thought-about for the nationwide workforce merely for her expertise on the sphere.
“I do know they’re ready for me. I actually want, from the underside of my coronary heart, that I used to be too [at Euro 2023] Alone phrases. I do not need individuals to think about ‘poor Virginia’ as a result of she’s behind me.”
As of this spring, Torresilla continues to be cancer-free and usually proudly posts on social media about her day by day exercises with Atletico Madrid. It is a stark distinction to the times she posted about battling an sickness that did not cease her from getting again into the sport she loves.
