Barcelona defender Carles Puyol has admitted he considered retiring from football following his recent knee injury.
The Spain international has just regained full fitness after undergoing an operation on the recurring problem in June.
Between January and August, Puyol missed about six months of action, and the 33-year-old has conceded he thought he may not have been able to play again.
"These were eight months of suffering," he told Antena3. "I had a hard time because I could not see a solution: I experienced loss of strength in my leg and I could not play.
"I even thought about quitting football."
Puyol was also questioned about the differences between bitter rivals Real Madrid and his own side, and the Catalan skipper was surprisingly kind with his remarks: "Madrid have few flaws, but their virtue is that they never give up."
Barcelona currently sit atop La Liga with 14 points, tied with Levante who have an inferior goal difference.
The Spain international has just regained full fitness after undergoing an operation on the recurring problem in June.
Between January and August, Puyol missed about six months of action, and the 33-year-old has conceded he thought he may not have been able to play again.
"These were eight months of suffering," he told Antena3. "I had a hard time because I could not see a solution: I experienced loss of strength in my leg and I could not play.
"I even thought about quitting football."
Puyol was also questioned about the differences between bitter rivals Real Madrid and his own side, and the Catalan skipper was surprisingly kind with his remarks: "Madrid have few flaws, but their virtue is that they never give up."
Barcelona currently sit atop La Liga with 14 points, tied with Levante who have an inferior goal difference.