Former FC Barcelona star David Villa has set the record straight on why he left the Catalan club.
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The Spaniard left the Blaugrana in 2013 for Atletico Madrid following three successful seasons at the Spanish giants, and initially it was suggested in the media that Villa quit the side for non-footballing reasons.
However, the New York City FC striker has made it clear as to why he left Barca, insisting that he was seeking first team football.
"I just decided to leave because I had lost my starting spot," he told Sport.
"I have always tried to be realistic about where I am, where I can go, I lost my place and I was not playing as much for technical reasons.
"The easy path would have been staying at Barcelona, to keep winning titles, prestige and reputation, but I wanted to be on the pitch. I looked for a way out.
"But then the media turned it into something else, when it was that simple: I did not want to be on the bench more than the pitch."
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During his three-year spell at the club, the 2010 World Cup Winner lifted the Spanish La Liga twice, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.
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