Felipe Melo says he almost gave up on his Juventus career.
The Brazil midfielder has played his way into the hearts of Juve fans after a difficult last season.
"After the World Cup I no longer had the motivation to play," confessed the 26-year-old Juventus midfielder in La Repubblica.
He was sent off against Holland and vilified by the media back in his homeland, not to mention unpopular with Juve fans.
"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."
