Chelsea star Gonzalo Higuain has confessed that he nearly ended his football career two years ago owing to his mother's poor health.
The 31-year-old recently sealed a short term loan move to the Stamford Bridge from Juventus after spending the first half of the season at AC Milan.
Higuain admitted that the news of his mother condition, added with their shocking defeat to Chile in the Copa America final two years ago almost forced him to hang his boots.
"I decided immediately that I must stop playing football so that I could look after my mum ," Higuain explained to the Mirror.
"I suspected something was wrong at home during the Copa America, but it was still a huge shock when I was told the truth. "I felt guilty because I played in that final without knowing .
"My whole world came crashing down in that moment. I was not interested in anything else but my mum .
"I told her I was finished with football and if it had been down to me I would have stopped playing. "Her reply was that when I played football it made her happy .
"She told me that she would not allow me to give up something I loved. "She asked me to carry on for her - and I knew I had to grant that wish. "
The Argentine's move to the Stamford Bridge this winter sees him re-unite with his former boss manager Maurizio Sarri.
Both had good time during their stay at Napoli in Serie A which saw the former Real Madrid star score 36 goals in 35 Serie A games during the 2015/16 campaign.
"My family and friends are everything to me," Higuain continued. "After that, comes football. People need to understand that .
"They see you kick a ball and they don't think you have anything to think about outside the game. "
Meanwhile, he could make his Chelsea debut when they battle Sheffield Wednesday at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup later today (6pm).
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