Former Newcastle United defender announces shock retirement aged 31

Former Newcastle United defender Davide Santon has announced his retirement from football aged 31.

The Italian made 94 appearances during his four years at St James’ Park after arriving from Inter Milan in 2011.

Santon returned to his homeland with Inter in 2015 before joining AS Roma three years later.

However, the full-back has been plagued with injury in recent seasons and has taken the decision to announce his early retirement.

Santon was a free agent after leaving Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the summer.

He revealed: “I am forced to stop playing. Not for not having had offers, not for anything else, but because my body, with so many injuries in the past, can’t take it anymore. I am forced to do it. I don’t want to, but I have to ”

“I have my left knee where I didn’t have an operation, but it went. It prevents me from many things.

“And then there’s the famous right knee, operated on three times. Cartilage, removed all the external meniscus, but as soon as I do minimum exertion, it swells and no longer bends.

“In Serie A you have to push, the right knee doesn’t bend, I strained the left leg and the flexor is… gone. Every slightest effort there is always to stretch, to stay still. You play a race, you stay out of five.”