'Excruciating pain' forced Gabriel Batistua to ask for leg amputation post retirement

Former Fiorentina striker Gabriel Batistuta, who called time on his career in 2005, has revealed that he asked a specialist to amputate his legs following his retirement.

Batistuta hung up his boots in 2006 following a glittering career with his club as well as Argentina national team. However the striker has revealed that his retirement hasn't been an enjoyable one due to the excruciating ankle pain he felt.

Batistuta said that he left football and overnight he couldn't walk. He added that he wet the bed even though the bathroom was only three meters away, The Mirror reported.

He said that it had been early morning and he knew that if he stood his ankle would kill him. Batistuta added that he went to see Doctor Avanzi and told him to cut off his legs, but the doctor looked at the striker and told him that he was crazy.

The former Argentina International said that he could not bear it any longer, adding that he can't put in to words just how bad the pain was. He said that he looked at Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius, who is a double amputee, and said that that is his solution.

Batistuta has since had screws inserted into his right leg and admits that he is now able to get around without too much trouble. He said that his problem is that he has no cartilage or tendons and his 86 kilos are supported by his bones alone and that is what generated the pain.

Batistuta added that he is much better now than he was three years ago.