Ronaldinho Gaúcho, a 44-year-old former forward of FC Barcelona and other clubs, as well as a world champion with the Brazilian team in 2002 and the Copa América, is still supporting the ‘canarinha’. The latest criticism has come from a player from Barcelona: Raphinha.
“Brazil may have one of the weakest teams in recent years, lacking respected leaders and mostly having mid-level players. That’s it, my friends, I’ve had enough. It’s a sad moment for anyone who loves Brazilian football. It’s hard to find the energy to watch the games,” he said this Saturday after a fiery interview on a YouTube channel released on Friday. He mentioned that the ‘canarinha’ lacks “joy,” “claw,” “commitment,” and “everything.”
“I’ve been following football since I was a kid, long before I even thought about becoming a player, and I’ve never seen such a dire situation. There’s a lack of passion for the jersey, a lack of determination, and most importantly, a lack of football. The current team’s performance is one of the worst I’ve ever seen. It’s a shame. That’s why I’m stepping back. I won’t be watching any Copa América matches or celebrating any victories,” he declared.
Raphinha responded strongly and sarcastically at a press conference, even suggesting that it might be an advertising campaign: “I don’t know if it’s an ad campaign or not, but a few days ago he was asking Vinicius for tickets to watch a match, which contradicts what he said.. It was a surprise not just for me, but for the whole group.. He’s never made a statement like this before; on the contrary, he’s always shown support for the team. It surprised many people. “I see him as an idol, a role model. Everyone in the national team, not just the players, but everyone who works here, sees him as a role model,” he explained.
He said, “it was a shock for us. Obviously, we do not agree, I do not agree, I am in my third year and I see commitment, desire, pride in wearing the shirt, I do not agree with what has been said, “I don’t see drive, desire, having average players wearing the national team shirt. I completely disagree, they all have quality, merit.”
The winger, who could be one of the starters in Brazil’s attack, reiterated how surprising all this had been internally: “It’s a surprise to hear that coming from him, but I don’t agree, being here I see it every time. days”.
Brazil is set to kick off their Copa América campaign on the 24th against Costa Rica in Los Angeles. They will then go on to play against Paraguay and Colombia in Group D. The five-time world champion is aiming for their tenth Copa América title, following a forgettable 2023 with more losses (5) than wins (3) – a rare occurrence since 1963. In January, Dorival Júnior took charge of the team, securing two wins against England (0-1) and Mexico (2-3), as well as two draws against Spain (3-3) and the United States (1-1) in the four friendlies he has managed so far.
This content has been translated and adapted from the Spanish version of the digital newspaper
