Ex-Chelsea star Oscar rushed to hospital with heart issue amid retirement fears

Ex-Chelsea midfielder Oscar may be forced into early retirement after collapsing during a training session due to heart problems, according to reports from Brazil.

The last time Oscar played for Sao Paulo was in August against Corinthians, where he sustained a fractured vertebrae within the first 20 minutes. Since then, he has only made the bench twice. The 34-year-old reportedly fell ill while using an exercise bike during Tuesday's training session and was immediately rushed to hospital.

It's reported that former Blues attacker Oscar has been keeping an eye on a cardiac issue for several months after abnormalities were detected during his fracture tests.

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In a statement released on Tuesday, the club revealed that Oscar "presented an incident with cardiological changes" and was "promptly attended to by the club's professionals and the medical team from Einstein Hospital Israelita".

They further stated: "The player was then taken to the hospital, where he is currently in stable condition and remains under observation for further tests to clarify the diagnosis. As per standard procedure and respecting the player's privacy, further information will be released as soon as there is an update from the medical team, in agreement with Oscar."

Oscar returned to his roots in Brazil when he inked a three-year deal with Sao Paulo, the club where he first made his mark before his 2012 move to Stamford Bridge. The move took place in December of the previous year, and Oscar expressed his delight at returning 'home' to the club where his journey began.

After joining Chelsea on the back of their Champions League triumph, Oscar went on to clinch the Premier League title under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho three years later.

His departure from west London came as a surprise when he secured a staggering £60 million transfer to Shanghai Port in 2016. This move was met with criticism from then-Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, during a period when the Chinese Super League was splashing out enormous sums on high-profile players.

Oscar enjoyed a successful stint with Shanghai Port, bagging the CSL title three times and also lifting the Chinese FA Cup and Super Cup. He was reportedly earning a whopping £400,000 per week during his time there. The Brazilian netted 77 goals and provided 141 assists in 248 appearances for the club.