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Mane՛ Babayan

10-09-2021 | 21:55 Football
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Marcelo Bielsa reveals Leeds United's stance on Raphinha fiasco and breaks silence on Daniel James move

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has revealed the stance on the FIFA's controversial decision over Raphinha ahead of Sunday's clash vs Liverpool. The 24-year-old earned his first callup with Brazil last month, but coronavirus restrictions upon returning to the United Kingdom have prevented him from taking any part in three games during September. And the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) have lodged a complaint against Leeds - and four other Premier League clubs - with football's governing body, asking FIFA to impose a five-day ban on Raphinha representing the Whites, which would rule him out of Sunday's fixture. So far it has been unclear whether the Premier League's Brazilian contingent would be permitted to play this weekend. And Bielsa has weighed in on the debate, in response to various questions regarding the contentious topic during his pre-Liverpool press conference.
"If a player leaves his club of origin for ten days, one day before the game he has to play in his league, when he comes back he can't play that game and he has to quarantine, he didn't leave for ten days, he has left for 21 days.   "For four weeks to a month, there are three weeks he won't be able to play for the club he belongs to. There are international breaks in September, October, November. In those three months if he's not going to participate for three weeks it's impossible to think that nothing's going to happen.   "The national teams have to take on board or develop their activities and they have to maintain that feeling that the footballer wants to represent their country.   "It is convenient for the industry that there are a lot of games. They don't care if the players are saturated, get injured or play badly because they play so much."
And solution to Leeds' Raphinha conundrum would be blooding newcomer Daniel James for his Whites debut. Leeds boss also confirmed James could be involved:
"I think the decision to bring in James was the correct one by the club. He will be available this weekend - he's a player who can play on either side that combines his ability to unbalance the opponent. He passages into the empty spaces, considering his speed."
  Source - LeedsLive Join us on Telegram!/ Follow us on Twitter!

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