Thomas Vermaelen is determined to prove himself at Barcelona next season after enduring a “terrible” campaign at the Nou Camp.

Barca signed Vermaelen from Arsenal for £15 million last summer, but the Belgian struggled to recover from a hamstring strain he suffered at the World Cup and then sustained a serious thigh injury.

Vermaelen watched on in frustration as his team-mates completed a historic treble. The 29-year-old had to wait until the final game of the season to make his debut.

The Belgian felt uneasy about collecting winner’s medals last year when he barely contributed, and regards the campaign as a low point in his career.

“I got a medal, but you don’t feel like you have won the treble,” Vermaelen said.

“I was very happy for the team, but it’s not like I contributed a lot for the cups we won.”

Vermaelen has come through the first two games of Barca’s pre-season tour of the United States unscathed and is optimistic about maintaining his fitness in the build-up to the new campaign.

“I am very happy and very pleased to be back,” the former Arsenal defender said.

“There’s nothing better than to feel fit. Last year was terrible and I am happy that the feeling in the legs is perfect again.

“I feel 100 per cent now. We just started pre-season so I am adapting still but I’m hopeful.”