David Villa says one of his only regrets is never playing in the Premier League
Spain legend David Villa says one of his only regrets ahead of retirement is never playing in the Premier League
- The striker, Spain’s top marksman ever, plays for Japanese club Vissel Kobe
- There are only three games left of his domestic season, ahead of retirement
- In an interview with Marca, the 37-year-old made the admission about England
As his professional playing career draws to a close, David Villa has revealed that one of his only regrets of a 20-year career is not having played in the Premier League.
The legendary striker, and Spain‘s top marksman ever, plays for Japanese club Vissel Kobe alongside former Barcelona teammate Andreas Iniesta.
There are only three games left of his domestic season, five all together if he and his teammates can win their upcoming Emperor’s Cup semi, then a glittering career will have ended.
David Villa, 37, revealed one of his only regrets is not having played in the Premier League
In a candid interview with Marca, the 37-year-old was talking through his career and made the admission about England’s top division, saying: ‘[I would like to have] played in the Premier League.
‘But I made my decisions and it really wouldn’t be fair to complain that I missed out on something when I had such a complete career.’
But the former Valencia and New York man insists he is still happy with what he has achieved.
‘I have been very lucky for what I experienced. I wouldn’t change anything,’ he said.
Whilst still at Valencia, Villa was linked with many clubs, including Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool, after returning from Euro 2008 with a departure heavily mooted.
But no concrete offer ever prevailed, despite reports of Chelsea and Manchester United also being interested, and Villa went on to score against the latter in the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley.
Villa announced this week he will retire in January after a season with Vissel Kobe in Japan
David Villa won La Liga in his first two seasons at Barca, and one Champions League medal
Villa was at Barcelona for three seasons between 2010 and 2013 before transferring to Atletico Madrid.
He won the La Liga in his first two seasons at Camp Nou and also in his only season as an Atleti player, but among his other regrets – he says – is that he didn’t win more titles.
The man who picked up a Champions League winners medal in the 10/11 season said: ‘[I would like to] have won more titles. Leagues, Champions Leagues, with Atletico…
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