Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin has revealed that he was forced to shut down his social media accounts because of widespread abuse.
The Spanish full-back has been criticised for his choice of hairstyle and his fashion range, on top of regularly being lambasted for his displays on the field.
Bellerin has since returned to Twitter, despite the personal attacks still continuing, and the 23-year-old admits that there is now "pressure to conform" when it comes to everyday life.
"For a while, I deleted the apps," he is quoted as saying by The Express. "Later, I decided to go back on. Twitter is a great source of information.
"People have called me 'lesbian' for growing my hair. There are other kinds of homophobic insults. I have learnt to grow a thick skin but it can affect you. Every now and again, you get a bit of self-doubt.
"Every day I am learning to deal with abuse in a better way. The problem is that people have an idea of what a footballer should look like, how they should behave, what they should talk about.
"You act a little differently and you become a target. There is pressure to conform. This is very dangerous. In life, you should be allowed to express yourself. People are happier like this."
Bellerin has started and finished all four of Arsenal's Premier League matches this season.
Daniel Lewis
