Schalke 04 midfielder Nabil Bentaleb has sent a heartfelt message to his former Tottenham Hotspur teammate, Ryan Mason who retired from football on Tuesday.
The midfielder suffered a career-threatening skull injury in a Premier League tie against Chelsea in January 2017 after a clash of heads with Gary Cahill.
Despite undergoing surgeries and rehabilitation in an effort to return to the field, the 26-year-old has been forced to retire with immediate effect.
And Bentaleb has paid tribute to the former England youth international whom he played alongside in Spurs’ development squad and first team.
"Such an unforgettable feeling knowing that I shared the midfield and learn a lot from Ryan Mason since development squad and couple months later playing alongside for the first team. Wish you and your family good luck in this new chapter. Love you bro," he posted on Instagram.