It all starts from the 2018 Dakar, with Villas Boas — at that time without a bench after the separation from the Chinese Shanghai Sipg — who takes part in the craziest race in the world only to retire due to a violent blow to the back suffered while jumping a dune. From there all the necessary checks, which identify two tumors: «In the first case, half of my thyroid was removed, but the operation went badly, a few more minutes and I would have died of asphyxiation — he says — It was an internal hemorrhage, which within a few minutes would have proved fatal. I pressed the button, the nurse came and I just remember hearing her scream, take my bedrunning through the hospital straight to the emergency room, the doors being forced open, the injection and… When I woke up I was on my feet.”
A great fear, which fortunately did not lead to tragic outcomes: «It was all very curious – continued Villas Boas – because, due to thyroid tests, they discovered another tumor on my back, which I had to remove. If it hadn’t been for the accident, I would never have discovered these diseases.” Having resigned from his role as coach of Olympique Marseille on 2 February 2021, the 46-year-old has decided to run in Porto’s presidential elections. Another battle awaits him.
