Messi and Bale among stars who don't watch football after Arteta defends White

England international White hit the headlines for revealing that he never watched football growing up and still rarely watches matches on TV now.

Patrick Vieira took issue with the comments and claimed all the best players he played with including Thierry Henry were students of the game.

But Gunners chief Arteta insisted the main point is that White demonstrates his passion when he is on the pitch rather than in his spare time.

He said: "I think there are phases in the career of a footballer that he goes through where he's more focused on other things than football.

"But I met some people that they don't see a lot of football but they watch their game three times and others that they don't wanna watch their own games or watch themselves but they can watch any other game. You have to find the right balance.

"For me the most important thing is that he shows the passion to play the game every single day.

"To train, to have the enjoyment playing football which is what he has and then the way he competes and the way he wants to improve.

"If we believe that this is better it's something that we will discuss with him, but at the moment it's working fine for him."

With that in mind, talkSPORT.com takes a look at eight players from past and present who have preferred to just play the game rather than watch it…

Gareth Bale

The Wales captain has made no secret of his love for golf in recent years.

So much so, in fact, that Bale would much rather watch the Masters than any of Real Madrid's rivals in the Champions League.

The 32-year-old was quizzed on facing Neymar ahead of Los Blanco's European showdown with Paris Saint-Germain back in 2018.

Bale replied: "I don't watch much football; I'd rather watch the golf to be honest."

Lionel Messi

In fairness, the six time Ballon d'Or winner doesn't stand to learn much watching other players on his TV.

And back in 2013 during an interview with Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, Messi admitted his family usually get priority over what to watch at home.

He said: "I never watch football on television. Antonella gets bored with it. I come home and tell her I scored two or three goals, and she doesn't even hear me.

"I like watching cartoons with Thiago. He laughs a lot."

Neymar

The Brazilian has almost missed as many games as he's played for PSG through injuries and suspensions since his £198million move in 2017.

Neymar was famously in the stands for his club's Champions League exit to Manchester United two years ago but that was a rarity.

The 29-year-old admitted that year that he doesn't like to watch football when he is not playing and does not often flick games on the TV at home.

He told Otro: "I don't like to watch football when I'm not playing. I don't like it. I rarely watch matches on TV. Very rarely.

"I watch it when my team is playing and I'm not playing, but other matches I don't like to watch."

Bobby Zamora

The former West Ham striker boldly opiniated that a lot of footballers are in the same camp of not watching the game…they just won't want to admit it.

Speaking back in 2012, he told the Daily Mail: "I'm not a massive football fan, really, I don't watch games on an evening or anything like that.

"Quite a lot more players than [those that admit it] are the same. A lot of people find it strange [that I don't like football].

"I'm not sure what I want to do after I finish playing but if it means watching football then I don't want to get involved."

Carlos Tevez

The former Man United and Man City ace is another high-profile footballer who would much rather check out Tiger Woods and Co.

"If Barcelona and Real Madrid are playing each other, but there is a golf tournament on another channel, I'll choose to watch the golf instead," he explained in an interview with Clarin, per Marca.

"I don't watch any football on television.

"I don't like football, I've never been a fan of football, I simply like to play and to have the ball at my feet."

Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Barcelona's goalkeeper has admitted himself that he is pretty clueless to his fellow professionals outside of the Nou Camp.

"People laugh when I tell them I have no idea about football," Ter Stegen told El Pais, as quoted by the Daily Mail in 2020.

"I don't see a lot of football, except when there are good games or when I'm particularly interested in one because I have a relationship or a friend.

"Sometimes they ask me for a player's name and I have no idea."

Ronaldinho

Barcelona fans could sit and watch the Brazilian in his pomp all day long.

Yet it seems Ronaldinho himself struggles to watch others play the game even though he adores stepping out on the pitch.

"I don't like to watch football, I like to play it," he was quoted as saying by The Sun in January 2018.

"I can't stand in front of the television for 90 minutes, I only watch the highlights."

Carlos Vela

The ex-Arsenal star played around the peak years of Arsene Wenger in north London - and still failed to develop a passion for watching the beautiful game.

"Between a good movie and a good football game, I prefer the movie,"the Los Angeles FC hitman once said.

In an interview with Canal+, he added: "I'll be honest with you. The truth is that I've never been so passionate about football as to say, 'I'm a fan of Real Madrid or of this team and I'll stand with them to the death.'

"I enjoy playing, but once the match ends the football is finished for me and you can talk to me about anything that isn't football, because I wouldn't feel comfortable doing so or like doing so."