Higuain: 'Almost quit football'

By Football Italia staff

Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain says he was ready to quit football after his World Cup Final miss in 2014, but ‘my mother wouldn’t let me’.

Higuain has played for some of the world’s best clubs in the world’s best leagues, but the former Real Madrid and Napoli hitman is also among the most scrutinised, from his perceived lack of bottle in big games to issues with his weight.

“I’ve always regretted locking myself away and not going outside, afraid of what people might say,” he told Marca.

“Many people say, ‘with all that money you earn’, but you can’t buy friends. I spend Christmas with different people.

“I want to see my mum but she has to fly 15 hours. Of course, I can pay for her ticket, but it’s not like she’s 10 minutes away.

“People don’t see those things. What do they see? That you put the ball in the back of the net because that’s what you’re paid to do.

“I’ve played in the best leagues, for the best teams, at three World Cups and the Copa America...

“I didn’t imagine even 10 percent of this when I was five and I did it... Why should I worry about what people say?

“When I started to understand that, I started to go out and live more.”

That criticism came to a head in the summer of 2014, when the 32-year-old missed a gilt-edged chance during the World Cup Final...

“It’s not easy to be told ‘this lad’s no good anymore, he’s a failure, he can’t play football.’ It hurts.

“Yes, it’s true that we didn’t achieve our objective, but to have been a failure? Reaching three finals isn’t failure...

“Whoever dreamed of playing football when they were little but didn’t, did they also fail? It’s a huge word, but hey, maybe whoever uses it hasn’t failed themselves...

“The chance dropped unexpectedly, I had to take it and unfortunately I couldn’t. I went with the first thing that popped up in my head. I don’t know if I’d do the same thing now.

“It came my way with my back to goal. It was given to me by a defender 15 yards away and, as soon as I turned around, the goal was in front of me. It looked easier than it was.”

Argentina ended up losing to Germany in extra-time at Maracana, and the defeat had a profound effect on Pipita.

“I was about to stop playing, but my mother told me to keep going. If it was up to me, I would’ve quit football. It’s something I love, but I love my mum more...

“She said she wouldn’t let me to leave what I love for her.”

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