Heartwarming stuff
Atletico Madrid's women's team celebrated the return of Virginia Torrecilla to the pitch for the first time since she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May, 2020.
Torrecilla was diagnosed after she suffered from headaches and back pains, before undergoing surgery in Pamplona, Spain.
After a successful operation, the Spanish international undertook a course of chemotherapy treatment and returned to training in March 2021.
Following their game against Barcelona Femeni in the final of the Spanish Super Cup - in which Barça ran out as 7-0 winners - players of both sides gathered together to celebrate the emotional moment.
Torrecilla, who had also played for Barcelona, was surrounded before being hoisted in the air to celebrate her return to the pitch and met with raptures of cheers.
https://twitter.com/FCBfemeni/status/1485243497640873985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1485243497640873985%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fsoccer%2Fatletico-madrid-atletico_madrid_women%2Fstory%2F4576711%2Fatletico-madrids-virginia-torrecilla-returns-to-action-two-years-after-brain-tumor-surgery
Following the game, the 27-year-old expressed her joy at being able to return to the pitch.
"I have many friends at Barça. In the national team we make a lot of friends,” she said, as per Barca Blaugranes.
"Football has been with me throughout this process. They have been like a family to me. I must thank everything they have done for me. It is an honour and I thank Barça for everything they’ve done for me."
Torrecilla also posted a video to the Atletico Madrid Femenino Twitter account, thanking everybody for the support she had received.
https://twitter.com/AtletiFemenino/status/1483911116979904513?s=20
"I'm very happy to be here with [my teammates] and to share everything," she said.
"This is a very important step... A lot of time has passed. It has been about effort, a lot of sacrifice and a lot of training.
"I have to thank the club, they've always been with me. This is my reward. Being here in the dressing room and on the pitch, it's very special."
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