Thomas Vermaelen regrets staying at FC Barcelona this summer
The Belgian knows not playing could harm his chances of a World Cup place
He spoke to journalists in his country and admitted he made a mistake
Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen has a big chance of leaving Barcelona in the winter window, in search of a team that will play him. The player decided to stay at the Catalan club last summer after Ernesto Valverde convinced him to. The coach said he wanted him in the squad as one of four centre-backs and that he counted on him. But in the hour of truth, Vermaelen has had few minutes. With the winter window around the corner, the player is conscious that he needs to leave to get game time ahead of the summer World Cup.
The defender is always included in Roberto Martinez's squad. However at 31 years old, Vermaelen needs game time. He regrets staying.
"In the summer I thought it would be positive to stay at Barcelona, but after seeing how my situation is here, I've seen that's not the case," he told Het Laatste Nieuws.
The Belgian has been linked with Anderlecht and Vermaelen didn't deny it. "I'm not going to say anything about that because last time I spoke my words were taken out of context," said the defender.
He played the full 90 in a 3-3 draw with Mexico and said he was "happy to play with Belgium, given that with my club I almost never play."
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