Brazil star Melo came close to quitting football

Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo has revealed that he was ready to quit football following Brazil's disappointing 2-1 World Cup quarter-final loss to Netherlands in South Africa this summer.

The tough-tackling anchorman deflected in Wesley Sneijder's effort to cancel out Robinho's effort before seeing red for stamping on Arjen Robben.

Sneijder added a second to condemn the five-time world champions to defeat with Melo taking the flak for their exit and it was enough for him to consider his future before reflecting on his errors.

"After the World Cup I no longer had the motivation to play," Melo told La Repubblica.

"I had no joy in it anymore and had decided to leave football. I played a decent World Cup, but in Brazil everyone said we had gone out because of me.

"Those who understand football know that we were going to go out anyway. You just had to look in the eyes of the Dutch players before my red card to realise it.

"I am not an angel, but I understood that I could be hard without going over the top."