"I played less in the last year. Wenger opted for [Laurent] Koscielny and [Per] Mertesacker at the time. They made a good duo and conceded few goals. Thomas Vermaelen is unveiled at Barcelona I chose to leave, and a deal was made with Barcelona. If I had stayed, it could have worked out well. I don't regret it, not at all. Those are also choices you make at the time."
"Vermaelen suffered a hamstring injury playing for Belgium in a group stage match against Russia at the World Cup in 2014 and his time at Barcelona was beset by fitness problems. The 40-year-old had a spell on loan at Roma before ending his career in J1 League with Vissel Kobe. He has been engaged in coaching but football isn't his biggest focus in retirement. I'm trying to focus on my family now, said Vermaelen, who still lives in the south of England."
Thomas Vermaelen departed Arsenal for Barcelona following the 2014 FA Cup period despite feeling at home in London and being a popular figure. He played less in his final Arsenal season after Wenger preferred Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker as a central defensive duo. A move to Barcelona followed, but a hamstring injury at the 2014 World Cup and ongoing fitness problems hampered his spell in Spain. Vermaelen later had a loan at Roma, finished his playing career with Vissel Kobe in Japan, and now focuses on family while doing some coaching.
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