Jamie Carragher Branded Rio Ferdinand a “clown” in the midst of a heated row about the comments of the Liverpool -legend about the Africa Cup of Nations.
Carragher, 47, spoke about Sky Sports after the 2-0 victory of his former team in Manchester City and seemed to suggest that playing at Afcon was working against Mo Salah's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or.
The legendary center-back hinted that the Egypt International is in a disadvantage compared to Real Madrid-Supersterren Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
Carragher said on Sky Sports: “I think the problem [is] The fact that he is with Egypt, and he probably doesn't play as such in the big tournament or may have a big chance to win, I think it's the Champions League or the big tournament [that influences who wins the Ballon d’Or].
“Normally, the player who excels, such as Vini JR and Mbappe at the moment, Real Madrid looks really good for the Champions League.
“Liverpool will be in that conversation, but now [Real] is certainly the forerunner. “
But colleague experts Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge chimed in to correct Carragher by insisting that AFCON is an important tournament.
Richards said, “To say, Afcon is an important tournament because many people are at home and say,” They don't take it seriously “. Afcon is an important tournament, just so that you know.”
Carragher asked the man's hero City or he thought Egypt had the chance to win the World Cup.
Richards replied: “No, but Afcon is big, right? You remember that he and [Sadio] Mane went for it and … “
And Carragher interrupted the former defender by complaining: “Oh God.”
Sturridge jumped in by stating that it is a “fact” that Afcon is at the same level as the euros or Copa America.
The ex-liverpool star said: “It is a fact. It is a fact. It is a fact. If you win the euros or if you win Copa America, it is considered a big consideration, so that the AFCON is at the same level. “
Ferdinand, 46, caught the wind of Carragher's explanation and argued that a kind of thinking process is “ignorant”.
The man Utd Legend claimed that he understood what his ex-England teammate was trying to say, but insists that FIFA should work on promoting Afcon exactly like the euros and Copa America.
Ferdinand said on his Rio, Podcast presents: “I think that comments are representative of the majority of people who are there. But I don't think that's right. It is an ignorant thinking process.
“If you go to Didier Drogba, Abedi Pele, Samuel Eto'o, Riyad Mahrez, Mo Salah or Sadio Mane, they will tell you:” We have to win this ” – It's a requirement in their country to win this.
“Yes, it is not wise supported by the resources such as the euros, etc., but that does not mean that you have to devalue it. It is a continent of enormous power. A continent that contributes en masse to European football through players. are respected more than it is.
CARRIJFHER SLAMS FERDINAND
“I understand what Jamie says, but I don't agree. That is the fault of the majority, if we are honest, and it is not true.
“I think the federations such as FIFA should ensure that they implement a way of thinking and language around finon, so that it is equal to the euros and the Copa America.
“Jamie is right in what he says, because that is what happens. If Mo Salah won, that would not have any influence on someone if they vote for the balloon d'Or, which is absolutely wrong.”
Carragher heard what Ferdinand had to say on Instagram and hit back with a fiery response in the section of the comments.
The Liverpool has branded his colleague Premier League hero a “clown” while he insisted that his words were removed from the context.
Carragher replied: “I didn't say you have clown. Stop playing in the gallery as you always do.”
Rectify the record
The former Center-Back tried to rectify the record with a long-term message on Twitter.
Carragher tweeted: “The point I tried to make yesterday was that Mo Salah plays a disadvantage for Egypt in terms of winning the Balon d'Or.
“If Salah had an average season at LFC but the Afcon Won & MVP was, I don't think he would win the balloon d'Or. Because I think Afcon does not bear the weight of other tournaments.
“But if Mbappe had an average season in Real Madrid but won the World Cup/Euro, he would still have a great chance.
“It's not just about certain tournaments, [Andriy] Shevchenko (Ukraine), [Robert] Lewandowski (Poland) would never win the toilet/euros to help their business for the prize. I don't think it's completely controversial, it's really a fact.
“I know that a few years ago Male was 2nd after winning the tournament, but that alone would not have brought him to that position, it was LFC as two games away from a four -fold that also played a major role.
“It is not disrespectful if I think the toilet/euro/cp are better tournaments, it's just my opinion when I look at them. They say it wasn't big competition, but I think most people watching could be the point Understand that I was trying to make.
“The face that I pulled when Micah intervened was nothing to do with the merits of the tournament, I just knew as soon as he did what the reaction would be! I get a lot of people who didn't like what I said and that's fine.
“Normally I don't respond here to things with messages such as this, buti finally decided to tweet after I saw so many phones jumping on the bandwagon and played to the gallery when they knew what I meant. Good luck Mo You little dancer.”
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