Former Newcastle United defender Davide Santon admits he received an offer from Premier League newcomers Fulham over the summer before opting to retire instead, speaking to Il Messaggero.
Now, the Italy international didn’t reject Fulham, per se. Santon is at pains to point out that he ‘never said no’ to the Cottagers.
But after being consigned to over 12 months out of the game following a seemingly never-ending bout with injuries, the 31-year-old knew, deep down, that the chances of him passing a medical before joining a new club were slim in the extreme.
“At some point the light in me went out. I had a lot of time to think about it,” Santon explains. “While was excluded from Roma’s squad in my final season, I made the decision that it was time to quit. So we met with Roma and together we decided to end our relationship.
“I could have even accepted one or two proposals that came my way but I wasn’t having fun anymore. And so I stopped.
“I received proposals. From Fulham, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, and a couple of clubs in Spain and Turkey. I never said no. The problem is that the medical examinations would follow and that would constitute a problem for me.”
Former Newcastle United and Inter Milan ace Davide Santon retires aged 31
Santon, one of the most promising young defenders in Europe over a decade ago, was part of the Inter Milan team who won the treble with Jose Mourinho before embarking upon a memorable spell at Newcastle United.
The Magpies even secured a top-five Premier League finish during Santon’s time on Tyneside; the popular defender earning himself Newcastle’s 2013 Player of the Year award.
“I am forced to hang up my boots,” Santon told Tuttomercatoweb earlier in September. “My body just can’t handle it anymore after so many injuries.
“I’m forced to do this. I didn’t want to, but I have to. I had endless tests and consultations. But there was nothing to be done,” he adds. “I can still walk, but that’s not enough to be a professional athlete.
“The left knee is just gone. It stops me doing lots of things. As soon as I strain it even a little bit, it swells up and can’t bend.”
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