Brazil legend Ronaldinho has blasted this yr’s Copa América squad forward of the event, saying there’s a “lack of affection for the shirt” among the many workforce.
Ronaldinho, who received Copa América with Brazil in 1999 and the World Cup in 2002, took to Instagram to bemoan “a tragic second for individuals who like Brazilian soccer.”
“It is troublesome to search out vitality to look at the video games,” he wrote. “That is possibly one of many worst groups lately, it has no respectable leaders, simply common gamers for essentially the most half.
“I have been following soccer since I used to be a child, lengthy earlier than I thought of turning into a participant, and I’ve by no means seen a scenario as unhealthy as this. There is a lack of affection for the shirt, a scarcity of dedication and most significantly [a lack of] soccer.
“The efficiency has been one of many worst issues I’ve ever seen. It is a disgrace. That is why I declare I am giving up right here. I will not watch any CONMEBOL Copa América video games and I will not have a good time if Brazil win.”
The 2005 Ballon d’Or winner did discover time in an interview on the Cartoloucos channel to say that Actual Madrid star Vinícius Júnior deserves to emulate that particular person feat in 2024, having helped Los Blancos to a LaLiga and Champions League double.
Brazil winger Raphinha responded to Ronaldinho’s criticism on Saturday, calling it a “shock.”
“It was a shock not just for me however for everybody,” the Barcelona participant mentioned. “I consider you could know me much more than I do. He by no means made an announcement like that. He all the time confirmed help. He shocked lots of people.
“I take into account him an idol, a reference, and the others right here on the workforce do, too. Everybody appears to be like at him as a reference. It was a blow for us. We do not agree, I do not agree.
“I am going into my third yr within the workforce, and all I see right here is dedication, need and delight to put on this shirt. I do not agree with what was mentioned about having common gamers carrying the shirt. I utterly disagree. Everybody right here has the standard and benefit to put on the shirt.
“We discovered, from Vinícius Júnior, that Ronaldinho requested for a ticket to see our recreation as of late, so it would not match what was mentioned. Being right here, I see everybody’s dedication daily.”
Brazil’s first recreation at Copa América comes towards Costa Rica on June 24, with Colombia and Paraguay additionally in Group D.