Melo contemplated retirement

(GSM) – Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo claims he almost quit football following the harsh criticism he received because of his sending-off in Brazil’s World Cup defeat against Netherlands.

Melo was given his marching orders and was vilified in the Brazilian media as his national team were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

And a disappointing performance during his nation’s World Cup quarter-final defeat – after a terrible debut season in Turin – proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, with the player conceding that he no longer enjoyed football and pondered retirement.

“After the World Cup I no longer had the motivation to play,” Melo told La Repubblica.

“I had no joy in it anymore and had decided to leave football. I played a decent World Cup, but in Brazil everyone said we had gone out because of me.

“Those who understand football know that we were going to go out anyway. You just had to look in the eyes of the Dutch players before my red card to realise it.

“I am not an angel, but I understood that I could be hard without going over the top.”