Paris Saint-Germain attacker Ezequiel Lavezzi has admitted that he considered quitting the sport early in his Boca Juniors career.
Lavezzi was not given the chances that he thought he deserved and said that he could not turn down his idol Diego Maradona's old club Napoli when they showed interest in him.
"I see football as something that gives me the possibility to live the life I want to live," Ligue1.com quotes Lavezzi as saying. "I'm not someone who lives only for football.
"I wasn't sure [if I should continue to play football] so I asked a coach I knew for some advice. He told me to join Arsenal or Quilmes, two clubs renowned for giving young players a chance. As I'm a bit of a rebel, I chose San Lorenzo.
"Napoli and Atalanta both wanted me, but I chose Napoli. I accepted to go there for less money simply because I wanted to play for that club. It's the club Maradona played for; it's the one Italian club that means a lot for an Argentine."
Lavezzi scored 38 league goals in his five years in Naples.
Matt Domm
