Maradona shows support for racism victim Koulibaly
BERLIN: Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski (pic) says he envisages finishing his career with the Bavarian club after this summer’s talk of a possible transfer for the prolific Pole.
“I’m not thinking of changing club. I admit it, this summer it could have been a subject for debate but that’s now all finished,” Lewandowski said in an interview with German sports daily Bild.
“It’s very likely that I’ll stay here for a long time. I identify totally with Bayern,” added the 30-year-old who joined Bayern in 2014 but who was on the radar of both Real Madrid and Chelsea in the summer.
Bayern bosses, however, averted a transfer, insisting that last season’s top Bundesliga scorer, with 29 goals, was not for sale.
“I have the feeling that since all these rumours and problems were buried, I am once again with all my heart with Bayern, at 100 per cent.”
Lewandowski, however, did urge Bayern to sign up some stars to help their bid for a first Champions League trophy since 2013.
The German champions have been linked with a big money move for French World Cupwinning defender Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid.
“It would help us more if one or two world class players join us rather than five good-level players,” he said.
Bayern face a tough draw in Champions League last 16, where they will play Premier League leaders Liverpool, away on Feb 19 and home on March 13. — AFP
BUENOS AIRES:
Diego Maradona has given his backing to Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly (pic) after the Senegalese international was subjected to racist abuse by Inter Milan supporters last week.
Argentina great
Maradona, who won the Serie A title with Napoli in
1987 and 1990, posted a picture of himself on social media holding up
Koulibaly’s No. 26 shirt with a message of support for the player, who was targeted with monkey chants by
Inter fans during
Napoli’s 1-0 defeat at the San Siro on
Wednesday.
“I played for
Napoli for seven years and I also suffered from racist chants from some fans,” said Maradona, who is coach of Mexican second division outfit Dorados and adored by Napoli fans.
The 58-year-old, currently on holiday in Buenos Aires as the Mexican league is on a break, said he feels “even more Neapolitan today and that he wants “to be close to” Koulibaly.
“I hope this incident signals a turning point to eliminate, once and for all, racism from football.”
Maradona’s gesture of solidarity comes after thousands of Napoli fans wore Koulibaly masks in support of the 27-year-old during their side’s 3-2 win over Bologna on Saturday.
On Friday, European football governing body UEFA said its anti-racism protocol had not been followed during the match in which Koulibaly, who was also sent off, was abused.
Fans were asked three times over the loudspeaker to stop the abuse, but they ignored the pleas.
According to UEFA’s protocol, the match should have been suspended then but instead the game was allowed to continue.
The Italian league subsequently ordered Inter to play two home matches behind closed doors as punishment. — AFP