Mexico hit by new naturalisation row
Mexico hit by new naturalisation row
Mexico’s national team has been hit by another row over naturalised players after coach Ricardo La Volpe said he was interested in the services of Argentine-born midfielder Walter Gaitan.
La Volpe already has two naturalised players in his squad – Brazilian-born midfielder Antonio Naelson and Argentine-born foward Guillermo Franco – and the subject has split Mexican football down the middle.
Critics are especially angry because La Volpe has overlooked Mexican-born midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco and striker Adolfo Bautista, who many feel deserve a place in the squad.
The volatile Blanco, in particular, is regarded by many as Mexico’s best player.
On Friday, Gaitan told the sports daily Record that he had met La Volpe and said he identified more with Mexico than the country of his birth.
‘I’ve known for a long time that it’s very unlikely (to be picked for Argentina) and I want to play football, I want to dream about going to the World Cup,’ he said.
More: soccernet.espn.go.com
