Former Liverpool goalkeeper Doni has explained his long absence from football by revealing he suffered a heart attack in the summer.

The 33-year-old Brazilian, whose last match for the Reds came on the final day of the 2011/12 season in May, has not featured in any squad since.

“I almost... I almost ended up on the other side. I had a heart attack for about 25 seconds,” the former Roma player told calciomercato.com in Italy.

“I’ve been to one of the best doctors in Europe who looked at me carefully. He’s asked me to stop for a few months.

“Now I have to stay put until April, then I can return to the field, I want to play in the 2014 Paulista championship.”