PSG: "Je n'entretiens aucune relation avec les Russes", Zabarnyi prend la parole sur sa cohabitation avec Safonov
Three weeks after arriving in Paris, Ukrainian Illia Zabarnyi was questioned this Sunday about his difficult cohabitation with Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, as the two countries continue to clash in Ukraine. The defender is content with purely professional exchanges, according to him.
Illia Zabarnyi has a "clear position" and he's sticking to it. The Ukrainian defender's arrival at Paris Saint-Germain in early August raised doubts: how could he coexist with Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov in the midst of the war in Ukraine? For Illia Zabarnyi, the answer is simple: He will remain professional but will not have any personal relationship with a Russian as long as Vladimir Putin's army continues to invade his country.
"In my country, a full-scale war has been raging for four years. The Russians are aggressors who are trying in vain to destroy the freedom and independence of Ukraine," he said on the Ukrainian YouTube show Football 360. "The war continues, and I have no relations with the Russians."
He added: "As for my teammate, I must interact with him on a professional level in training and I will fulfill my obligations to the club. While the war continues, I fully support the complete isolation of Russian football from the world."
Enrique wants "unity"
The issue is very important in Ukraine, as a simple photo of the two players could create controversy. "In Ukraine, there should be nothing between the two, just an exchange, a discussion," Andrew Todos, an Anglo-Ukrainian journalist specializing in the English league, told RMC Sport.
For his part, Luis Enrique made a point of clarifying things after the start of the championship. According to the Parisian coach, there is no question of involving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia in his dressing room.
"Sport, and football in particular, is the best way to bring people together and create unity, not separation," the former La Roja coach declared. "Sport and people are beyond political compromises or the economic interests of politicians."
Commentaires (9)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté :
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter ou TikTok pour l'afficher automatiquement.