Most players dream of being a Barcelona player. To follow in the footsteps of the legends like Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta is the piannacle of their careers.

But for one player the weight of expectation at the Catalan club was just too much.

Gerard Deulofeu, who Watford signed for £13 million this summer, spoke to Offiside Rules Exclusiveabout his time at the Nou Camp and the pressure involved with being dubbed the “new Messi.”

“I didn’t take the chance of staying at Barcelona because playing there is so difficult and sometimes I didn’t have the chance, the confidence of Barcelona.

But now I’m here at Watford, I’m still young and the coach is tough. He is always trying to get the best out of me, which is good because if not you will be asleep on the pitch and you go down.”

“We tried two times… I don’t want to try three times… it’s too hard.”

The 24-year-old spoke that being in a front three with Messi and Suarez just wasn’t him: “I’m a former Barcelona player, but maybe my style is more similar to the one of a Real Madrid or Manchester City player.

“My best football is in the Premier League and Watford put a lot of confidence in me.”

And this is proving to be the case. His goal on Saturday, against Huddersfield, was one of the highest order, and his eight assists and 2 goals at Everton two seasons ago are signs his game is suited to England’s top-flight.

FAN VIEW 😳🔥 RA TA TA pic.twitter.com/JXMtRiqU95

— Gerard Deulofeu (@gerardeulofeu) October 28, 2018

 

Asked if he would ever go back to Barcelona the Hornet’s winger said: “I will not come back to Barcelona. I had been at Barcelona since I was nine years old, but sometimes you don’t feel hope.

“We tried two times,and if those two times doesn’t work, I don’t want to try three times… it’s too hard.”

Deulofeu’s Watford travel to lowly Newcastle this weekend, where they’ll be looking to continue their best ever start to a top-flight campaign after collecting 19-points from 10 games.

Words: Lee Pearson I Subbed: George Robson