When you become a professional footballer, there's no written contract that says you have to strive to play first-team football.
I just loved kicking a ball but I was determined to be a footballer and I wanted a professional contract, I would go to any professional club to get one. From 15, all I wanted was to be a footballer.
I'm quite unfit. It's the motivation that's the problem, I need a goal. When I was a professional footballer I trained every day because I had to.
When I signed that USL contract, my perspective changed on me being a professional footballer. That was my goal ever since I was young. I never thought I could achieve it, but that's when it clicked in my head that I can really go far in the sport.
When I went to Real Madrid, I was only 18 or 19 years old. It was my first year as a professional footballer. I was very young.
I am different as soon as I am on the pitch, because I had to fight so much and work so hard to become a professional footballer, so I have to give everything that I can.
My first goal was to become world champion and I did that against Ricky Burns at 135. Once I conquered that, I set myself another goal and another goal.
I wasn't really interested in girls. Only football. I was just enjoying football all the time. There was a five-a-side next to the flat, and I used to play there all the time. It was all about football. I wanted to be a professional. That was my goal. I didn't want to be anything other than a footballer.
As a kid, you obviously dream of being a professional footballer. I would watch players like Ronaldo of Brazil and pretend to be him in the playground. But I don't think about trying to become one of the best in the world or anything like that. I just play football.
I wasn't good enough to be a professional soccer player obviously but that was my first goal in life.
All I have ever wanted to do is be a professional footballer.
There is no excuse for a professional footballer not to be 100% fit.
Sometimes when you are a professional footballer, you have to deal with tough decisions.
Your eyes are very important as a professional footballer.
I became a professional footballer because I love football.
I'm a professional footballer, and I get paid for doing my job.