After two surgeries and nine months of recovery to correct a herniated hip problem, midfielder Artur returned to the pitch. In front of the crowd, which filled the Lower.com Field Stadium, the midfielder had a good presentation and was important in the Columbus Crew’s 4-0 rout of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
“I am very happy. My injury was complicated, I was in excruciating pain last year. I didn’t know when I would play again, but I never stopped believing and working. I dedicated myself too much and only the closest people know about everything I went through and overcame. Because of all this, being able to enter the field again and, on top of that, help the team to start with a victory, is something very special”, said the player, elected the best on the field in the match.
“In those days, I was thinking about everything that happened and, really, all the effort was well worth it. In difficult moments, I had all the support and I thank everyone who was by my side. Now, I have to stay focused and motivated to make another good season”, he added.
“Last year, unfortunately, I couldn’t help as I would have liked, but it’s over now. Our group is very good, we were champions a short time ago and I believe we have conditions to fight for another title. We had a great pre-season and we are ready to go in search of our goals”, he concluded.
Formed in the basic categories of São Paulo, Artur moved up to the professional team in 2016, when he played four matches. The following year, he was loaned to the Columbus Crew to gain experience. His good performances in the campaign that ended with the runner-up in the Eastern Conference of the MLS, however, made the American team acquire him permanently.
In the following seasons, the midfielder remained essential for the Ohio State team. Proof of this is that, while he was available, he always acted. More than that, he was a starter in practically every match.
Of the 142 matches in which he was listed, he played 133, being 122 since the beginning. He scored four goals, provided four assists and, in addition to the MLS, also celebrated the title of the 2021 Campeones Cup, an annual competition played in a single game between the previous year’s national champions in the United States and Mexico.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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