'With great regret' - Ex-Barcelona academy star forced to retire aged just 23 due to heart condition

Gonzalez has been forced to retire at a young age of 23 after he was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition last summer. The midfielder has been a part of Serie A side Lecce's first team since 2022, but has been forbidden to continue his playing career after the latest medicals conducted recently.

Gonzalez, born in Barcelona, began his footballing journey by joining the Cornella academy in 2014. After staying at Cornella for five years, he was snapped up by the Catalans in 2019 and played in the youth academy for two years. In 2021, he joined Lecce's academy and was promoted to the first team the following year. He spent two seasons with Lecce in Serie A, making 66 appearances in all competitions. However, he was diagnosed with a heart condition ahead of pre-season last year and missed the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign before being recalled by the club to re-assess his condition.

Lecce president Saverio Sticchi Damiani confirmed the heartbreaking news regarding the Spaniard, stating: "We called him back after a year for a new check-up, which took place a few days ago, and the situation remains the same. So, with great regret, I must tell you that he will not receive a definitive medical clearance and will no longer be able to play football at a professional level.I want to make two observations. First, a round of applause for our medical team, Dr. Tondo, because they detected a congenital condition that is very difficult to diagnose. He is a case in point. Thanks to that, the boy's life was saved. I'm in constant contact with Joan Gonzalez. He's faced this challenge with great maturity and intelligence. If he had continued playing with that mindset, he would have been a great footballer. But he'll be a great manager."

Although Gonzalez's playing career has been cut short due to a heart ailment, he could still contribute to the sport in a coaching capacity in the future.