Former Norwich City midfielder Marco Stiepermann has revealed the effects of long-COVID essentially led him to leave the club.
Stiepermann left Norwich on a free transfer two weeks ago, bringing an abrupt end to a four-year stay at the club following his move from VfL Bochum in 2017.
The move came as something of a surprise given he was something of a regular for the Canaries last season, managing 19 appearances in all competitions for the first team.
There had been signs he would be on his way out late last season when he was in the side on just four occasions between March and the end of the campaign, having missed three months of the season from December to March through injury.
His decision to pass up Premier League football was still something of a shock, though, with him likely to have had some chances to help Norwich avoid the drop this year.
And he’s now revealed it was the effects of Long-COVID that essentially led to him and the club deciding to part ways.
“The Norwich officials told me honestly that it would be difficult for me to get playing time because of my permanent ailments,” he told BILD.
“I also went to a neurologist, and he was of the opinion that Long-COVID was the only explanation for my complaints.
“Other viruses would not affect the organ of equilibrium like that.
“My goal now is to get one hundred per cent fit again and to play for a professional club – preferably in Germany – in the new season.”
