Former Chelsea star Oscar has reportedly decided to retire from football after being diagnosed with a medical condition last month.
Oscar was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope following his sudden collapse during a Sao Paulo training session.
The condition can be controlled with medication or a minor procedure to cauterise a node responsible for sudden drops in blood pressure.
Vasovagal syncope is not considered life threatening when managed appropriately.
Brazilian outlet Globo has reported that Oscar has discussed his future with those close to him and Sao Paulo.
The midfielder has reportedly informed the club of his decision to retire, allowing them to plan ahead for next season without him.
According to the report, a formal announcement is expected from Oscar and Sau Paulo in the coming days.
Oscar been hospitalised after fainting last month, with specialists confirming the diagnoses after running controlled procedures to measure blood pressure and heart rate responses.
‘Extensive investigation carried out at the hospital confirmed the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope,’ a Sao Paulo statement read at the time.
Oscar was later released from hospital and has been continuing his recovery.
The former Brazil international returned to Sao Paulo’s training centre last week to catch up with team-mates and staff following his release from hospital.
Reports in Brazil last month stated that Oscar had been taking medication for a heart condition since August. The reports also claimed that his family had urged him to prioritise long term wellbeing as he considered his options after the collapse.
Local outlets stated that Sao Paulo were open to ending his contract amicably if he chose to bring his career to a close.
Oscar had returned to his boyhood club last December after eight years with Shanghai Port in China, where he had earned £150million during the height of the league’s spending boom.
His second spell at Sao Paulo had been disrupted by injuries and earlier health concerns, and he had appeared in only 21 matches since returning, with his last outing coming in August against Corinthians when he suffered a fractured vertebrae after 20 minutes.
Oscar had spent the previous decade as one of Brazil’s standout exports, scoring 38 goals in 203 matches for Chelsea between 2012 and 2016 before completing a high profile move to China.
Oscar and his wife, Ludmila Emboaba, share two children – Julia and Caio – and are understood to want to spend more time with them.
