Bojan: From day one, I was told that I had to be a son of a bitch Premier League Stoke man discussed his career

In reflecting upon his career so far, former Barcelona attacker Bojan Krkic admitted that he wasn't pleased about being asked to provide something that was at odds with his personality.

The forward now finds himself in the English Championship with Stoke City and looked back upon the early days of his career in an interview with El Pais.

"From the first day of my career, I was told that I had to be a son of a bitch," he aid.

"At first, I wasn't too aware of what that meant but over the years, I've understood it, even if I've never been able to.

"I played in the best Barcelona team of all time, in Milan, at Ajax, with Roma... and I scored goals in the four major leagues."

While some may feel that Bojan's career to date is one of unfulfilled promise, he feels that is the wrong way of looking at things.

"Did I turn out to be the player I promised to be? Well, how many people dream of having a career like this? I feel fortunate," he added.

"In the Barcelona academy, I scored a lot of goals, as well as in the first team.

"People put a label on you.

"Mine was 'the new Messi' and if you don't live up to those expectations, then you are a failure.

"But I speak English, Italian, Spanish and Catalan. It takes more courage to speak four languages than it would to win five more titles."