Hernandez will join Manchester United in July after agreeing to a £10million move from Chivas Guadalajara two weeks ago.
But the 21-year-old could have quit football after growing disillusioned with the game.
Hernandez played just 21 games in three years at Chivas.
“I thought about retiring because I felt stuck there,” he told News of the World.
“Every week would pass and my name would not be on the list for the game. I was not injured and was playing well in training, but I got nothing from the coach.
“I had so much confidence after that first game and as the weeks passed me by it all just drained out of my body and mind. It was so painful.
“I didn’t even have enough confidence to go and talk to the coach.
“I remember thinking about the World Cup back then and how if I didn’t start playing for my club soon that I would not ever get to play for my country.
“I was certain that I would be forgotten by the national coach and I would never reach my aim of getting through to South Africa.
“At that time I was indebted to my father who gave me really helpful advice. He told me to be patient and wait for my opportunity and thank God I did that.
“I just didn’t want to play football anymore and my parents really had to work hard to convince me not to walk away from everything.”
