Theo Zidane reveals the cost of staying available during Cordoba spell

Theo Zidane, the son of France legend Zinedine Zidane, has described enduring seven months of pain during his time at Cordoba, admitting he continued to play after receiving painkilling injections before eventually undergoing surgery for a herniated disc.

The 24-year-old midfielder spoke openly about the most difficult period of his career so far in an extended interview with Spanish newspaper Marca.

Zidane’s comments came on the same day his older brother, 28-year-old goalkeeper Luca Zidane, was reported to be close to a move to Leganes.

Theo said his first season with Cordoba had initially been a positive one. He established himself as a regular starter, remained physically fit and avoided injury while producing a series of strong performances.

“In my first year I started many matches, I was in good physical condition, I did not suffer injuries and I performed well,” said the Spanish player.

However, his situation changed in March 2025 when he began experiencing severe back pain. Despite the problem, he remained involved and continued to play. The issue became worse during the following season after he suffered a herniated disc, which caused him considerable discomfort.

Playing despite the pain

Theo said he and Cordoba’s medical staff explored several ways of allowing him to remain available, including the use of injections. He played in a number of matches after receiving pain relief, but eventually it became clear that an operation offered the best chance of restoring his fitness.

“I tried everything with the doctors, and I played many matches after getting injections, but it was better to have the operation, recover my previous physical condition and try to return to the level I showed during the first months,” he said.

The midfielder also explained that the seriousness of his condition was not fully understood by everyone at the club because of his determination to keep helping the team.

“Even within the club, some people did not know the extent of the problem because I always wanted to be present,” he added.

Theo said his ability to cope with pain contributed to the delay in making a decision about surgery. That changed when he reached a point at which he could no longer continue and a specialist told him an operation was necessary after identifying the hernia.

“I endured seven months of suffering because I never like making excuses, and perhaps I should have made the decision earlier, but I wanted to help the team,” he said.

The period proved challenging both physically and psychologically. Yet Theo believes it has strengthened his desire to show what he can do now that he is able to train and compete without pain.

He hopes his recovery will mark the beginning of a new phase in his career and says he is delighted to have regained his fitness. His ambition is to perform at a higher level than he managed during his first season with Cordoba.

“I am really looking forward to proving myself because I am convinced that I can perform better than I did in my first year. I am happy that I can now train without pain and give everything I have in matches,” he said.