Inter Miami striker Gonzalo Higuain has opened up on his uneasy life as a soccer player, saying he's lived 'unnaturally' for more than a decade.
The 34-year-old, who is known for his goalscoring exploits at Real Madrid, Napoli, Juventus and his country Argentina, is now leading the line for Inter Miami in the MLS.
The striker has shed light on his tough life as a professional soccer star, admitting he's had to put up with insults and disrespect.
'I feel that I have lived 15 years unnaturally. People think that we have an easy life, and no, it's not like that,' he told TYC Sports.
'Even a walk down the street can be difficult as you may get insulted and then if you respond or react, the repercussion is double.
'If you lose a match, miss a goal or get eliminated from a tournament you can't go out in public.
'Football is a sport, a job, and there's no need to confuse the two. It seems very unfair to me to have lived 15 years as an elite player and not to have been able to react at times when I had to bow my head in the face of insults and disrespect.
'At this point in my life I can no longer tolerate it.'
Higuain sealed a move to the United States in September 2020, moving on a free transfer after leaving Serie A champions Juventus.
The forward moved Stateside via the 'Beckham Rule' - the designated player option allowing teams in the MLS to sign up to three players outside of their salary cap.
When he joined Inter Miami, he said: 'I think it will be a beautiful experience in my life. It's what I was looking for - a new experience, a new league and a beautiful city.'
Higuain arguably receives less attention in the top flight in the States than he did during his spells across Europe.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com