Needs to be kept in perspective. First, it might have been reference to the fact that he got to rest while others played in the World Cup, as he wasn’t selected for France.
And footballers don’t play football in the off season, they go on holidays. They get about four weeks on average, and it’s the only block of time they get off.
In other words, due to the never ending amount of fixtures that international footballers have, he didn’t get picked for his country and got a four week break to rest.
He’s also playing in a different position. Most probable reason.