Colombia centre back Yerry Mina made a name for himself in this year's World Cup, scoring in three consecutive games as his team made it to the quarter finals, only to be sent home by England, of all countries, on penalties, of all things.
While the 23-year-old has seen his stock rise dramatically over the past month, it hasn't been all plain sailing at club level since his move from Brazilian side Palmeiras to Barcelona in January.
The defender told reporters at a press conference in Bogota on Thursday that he has found it hard being out of the first team at the Nou Camp:
When I saw that I wasn't even on the bench, that I wasn't even being considered, I started to train alone at home. It is tough to watch your teammates and see the matches on TV, it was a difficult moment that I don't wish on any player.
There were very difficult moments that were very sad for me because I was really not doing well. There were moments when I thought everything was going to turn out as I had imagined, but it wasn't like that. I felt moments everything came crashing down upon me, I felt that nothing was going right, I couldn't even pass the ball right, or train, I just felt like nothing went right.
Mina also revealed that he wishes to play for a team "where there is less pressure and where I can have minutes", but stopped short of saying that he would actively seek an exit from the club:
I will always try to do my best for me, for my club and I hope that wherever I end up, whether it is at Barcelona or whether I have to leave, I will do it in the best way, but for the moment I am happy at Barcelona.
The Colombian's future at Barcelona could be affected by the recent signing of Sevilla centre back Clement Lenglet, and Mina has been heavily linked with a move to Premier League side Everton, with the club valuing the defender at around £20 million.
