Experienced Brazilian midfielder says it all started thanks to a comment from Jack Grealish towards Martinelli
Felipe Melo, Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish were protagonists of regrettable scenes at the end of the Manchester City-Fluminense match, the Club World Cup final which the citizens won by 4-0. The three players began a succession of shoves shortly after the referee’s final whistle, and this trio was later separated by the remaining players and members on the benches of both teams.
Speaking to Brazilian journalists in Jeddah, the Saudi city that hosted the final stage of the intercontinental club competition, Felipe Melo justified his behavior, claiming that it all originated after a comment from Jack Grealish towards Martinelli.
“I’ve already said it here again and I’ll say it again: sorry for the strong words, but I’m already seeing a lot of idiots talking a lot of ‘nonsense’, like it was against Grémio, which I had started the mess with. I didn’t start any confusion, I simply went to defend my player, Martinelli, that Grealish is disrespectful. He plays for a national team, he is a great player, but he is disrespectful who started shouting ‘Olé’ at the end and, of course, our players started to get everyone was angry. When the game ended, he, Grealish, chose a smaller athlete [n.d.r.: Martinelli tem 22 anos] and went after Martinelli. When he saw Felipe Melo he started to act like a victim”, the experienced midfielder began by saying, in statements reproduced by ‘TNT Sports’.
“We had a great season, with great games. We won 10-0 in South America, last season, and we always respected it a lot. We beat our biggest rival this season 4-1 and we always respected it. We beat one of the biggest clubs by five of the world, which is River, and we have always respected it. We beat Boca Juniors and we have always respected it. So, the least we have to do is respect it. Now if, suddenly, it is a bad influence to do what I did, to defend my companions and my institution, I will do this forever. No one will be disrespectful to my athletes and no one will crow for my athletes. That’s what happened”, he added, before reporting what happened: “When the game he went after Martinelli, he chose a ‘little one’ and Martinelli was appearing, talking to him, forehead and I went after him. I pushed him, Walker came to the side and pushed me too and I went after them. I went to defend a teammate of mine.”
By Record
2023-12-22 23:23:00
#crow #athletes #Felipe #Melo #explains #confusion #Man #CityFluminense #Club #World #Cup #Jornal #Record
