Tottenham Hotspur’s Richarlison has hit back at Kylian Mbappe after the French star criticised the standard of football in South America.
Speaking to Brazilian outlet TNT Sports (via ESPN) earlier this year, Mbappe claimed that the international fixtures between South American teams can’t match up to something like the Nations League that is played across Europe in between major tournaments.
The 23-year-old is quoted as saying: “Argentina and Brazil don’t have that in that aspect. In South America, football is not as advanced as in Europe. That’s why when you look at the last cups, it’s always the Europeans who win.”
With the World Cup now underway, those comments carry greater weight. South American teams such as Brazil and Argentina go into the tournament in Qatar heavily fancied by some to go all the way, regardless of what Mbappe perceives to be a lower standard of preparation.
Not one to turn the other cheek and stay quiet, Spurs star Richarlison had something to say about the comments from Mbappe.
In a report from UOL, Richarlison is quoted as saying: “South American football is very difficult to play. You’ll play there at altitude, there in Bolivia, as you can see, it’s difficult. I went there for the national team, and we suffered a lot to adapt.
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“I think everyone says what they want. Just as in South America there are teams, according to Mbappe, weak, in Europe there are too. I think it’s all the same, there’s nothing to talk about.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I do think Kylian Mbappe has been a bit naive and ignorant with his comments there. South America has plenty of incredibly strong teams competing for the Copa America and playing each other regularly, just as Europe does. There are weak teams in South America for sure, but there are definitely lots of weaker teams in Europe, too.
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