Footballer Nemanja Matic joined the Sassuolo team this summer, where he immediately earned a place in the starting lineup, while defending the colors of the Italian club with Aro Murici.
During an interview for the “Four Four Two” portal, Matić was asked about Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka’s celebrations against Serbia at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, where both used the double-headed eagle – the symbol of the Albanian flag.
Matic criticized this move, considering it a political victory, not a sporting one.
“I respect them as footballers, I’ve played against them a few times in the Premier League. But with these little things they gain free political points. They grew up in Switzerland. With such an action, he shows no respect for the country he plays for. If he loves Albania so much, then why doesn’t he play for Albania? That’s my question,” Matic declared.
He added that love for different countries is not a problem, but sincerity is essential.
“You can love some countries, that’s not a problem. I love Serbia, it’s my country. I also love England, I spent a lot of time there. But I would never say that I love England more than Serbia. You have to be honest.”
“I’ve played against Xhaka many times and I’ve never had a problem. We always shook hands, he’s a good player – as is Shaqiri. But I would never do it to provoke someone. I respect everyone,” the midfielder said. /Telegraph/