Raul Jimenez says doctors told him it was a "miracle" he survived the skull fracture, but the Wolves striker was always confident he would recover.
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Wolves attacker Raul Jimenez made his first competitive appearance since November 2020, recently in a Premier League encounter against Leicester City. Jimenez was sidelined after sustaining an injury at Arsenal following an accidental clash of heads with David Luiz. The Mexico international revealed that doctors termed his survival following the skull fracture due to the collision as a “miracle”. However, Jimenez stated that he was always confident about his ability to recover and play football again.
“Since the first moment, the surgeons and doctors told me what happened and the risks. Sometimes it’s not what you want to hear but it’s their job. They told me it was a miracle to be here. The bone had broken and there was a little bit of bleeding inside my brain,” said the attacker who had to undergo emergency surgery for a major traumatic brain injury (TBI) and skull fracture.
“That’s why the surgery had to be quick and it was a really good job from the doctors. Since the beginning, they were really supportive with me. The skull fracture took a little bit longer than we all expected to heal and it really is a miracle for me to be here with you,” he added.
Jimenez currently wears specially-designed headgear for heading, full-contact training and matches. He will continue to do so for the rest of his career. Michael Keane, Ryan Mason and legendary Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech are some of the other players who sustained a similar injury.
“I always thought it was maybe like an ankle injury or a knee injury, and after my recovery I’ll be back to do what I love to do. I never thought about finishing my career or stopping playing. There was a chance of that, but I was always confident I was going to return.”
“If it was down to me, I wouldn’t use it. I’d play as normal. But the doctors told me that it’s protection, to prevent something that in this moment could be more dangerous for me. I feel good to do it without the headgear, but I know I have to be in line with the doctors, the surgeons. They say it is best for me to use it.”
Cech sustained a depressed fracture of the skull when he slid in at the feet of an opponent while playing for Chelsea, back in 2006. The footballer required emergency brain surgery and wore headgear in matches until he retired in 2019.
“I have been in contact with Petr. He texted me when I needed, when I wanted he was there. Once, when the team went to a game in London, he went to the hotel with the doctor to bring one of his helmets to see if we could do something similar. Even if they don’t know you, they are there to help,” stated Jimenez.
The footballer will next be seen in action at home in front of a full crowd, as former Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo brings his Tottenham side to Molineux.
