Wolfsburg striker Nicklas Bendtner believes a succession of injuries stifled his progression at Arsenal.
The 27-year-old has struggled to adapt to the Bundesliga since leaving the Gunners for Die Wölfe at the start of the season, making 18 bit-part league outings in a campaign that has seen him play second fiddle to 17-goal Bas Dost.
However, despite the problems that have afflicted his career thus far, the Dane is adamant that he is still enjoying the game as much as ever.
“I wish I hadn’t been injured so much, because I think my career could have looked very different. When you move a lot between teams and countries, it can be tough to adapt at first.”
I wish I hadn’t been injured so much, because I think my career could have looked very different
Bendtner is no stranger to making headlines for the wrong reasons, but, although he acknowledges that poor behaviour warrants negative press, he believes footballers are unjustly treated.
“In a way, [footballers] are treated unfairly,” he claims. “I don’t think people should be held to what they said nine years ago, for example.
“On the other hand, we have a responsibility to our clubs as well. But we all make mistakes, and sometimes we’re provoked.
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"For example, if I’m in a bar, a club or a restaurant, people might hit me in the back, or throw something at me. I know that if I react, I’ll be in the paper.
"That has happened to me on numerous occasions – far more often than it is ever written about.”
The Danish striker made headlines during Euro 2012 after being fined for advertising the betting company Paddy Power on his boxer shorts, but he remained coy when asked what message he would have on his underwear now.
“I can’t tell you [what message I’d have on my boxers] as it would probably be too much for some people. They’d be offended, and I can understand that as it would definitely be offensive!”
Read the full interview with Nicklas Bendtner in the June 2015 issue of FourFourTwo, out now in shops and on iPad. We chart the rise of Spurs' PFA award winner Harry Kane, look at a divisive decade of the Glazers at Manchester United and revisit the Miracle of Istanbul as told by the fans 10 years on.
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Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.
