Lucas to miss up to three months after undergoing tests on heart issue

Lucas Leiva has been advised to step away from football for at least two to three months after undergoing tests following the detection of a heart issue.

The former Liverpool and Lazio midfielder was forced to withdraw from training at Brazilian club Gremio earlier this week after the discovery was made during a routine screening.

After announcing on Tuesday that he would be assessed, a further statement from Gremio's medical department was published on Lucas' Twitter page on Thursday providing an update.

"The Medical Department of Gremio communicates that, after alterations were diagnosed in one of the routine pre-season exams of the athlete Lucas Leiva, he was submitted to complementary evaluations and referred to specialists," the statement read.

"Once the evaluations were completed, conducted by doctors Leandro Zimerman and Ricardo Stein, it was determined that the athlete should stay away from high-performance physical activities for a period of two to three months, during which he will be accompanied, monitored and guided by the club's medical team and the aforementioned specialists.

"After this period, Lucas Leiva will undergo further examinations and evaluations to determine the evolution of his clinical condition."

Lucas made 337 appearances during a 10-year spell in England where, after a difficult start, he became a fan favourite at Anfield, before joining Serie A giants Lazio in 2017.

After leaving Italy at the end of last season, the former Brazil international re-joined Gremio – the club where he began his career.

Gremio won promotion back to Brazil's top tier in 2022 after finishing second in Serie B, with Lucas scoring in the 3-0 win over Nautico that clinched it.