The FIFA Club World Cup has enjoyed good attention from fans across the world and teams have been highly competitive as they try to win the tournament.
Softfootball understands that Barcelona superstar Raphinha is not impressed by the timing of the competition despite his team not participating in the competition.
The Brazilian claims that there is no time for players to rest properly following a long season especially for European teams.
He said: ‘You have to go, period, because we follow orders; we have to be there playing. And, as a player for a European club, giving up my vacation to play in a new tournament is very complicated.’
‘It’s really bad having to give up your vacation to play something you’re forced to, because at no point did, they ask us players about anything. At no point did they ask us if we wanted to play or what the ideal dates were. They just said we had to go and that’s it.’
Interestingly, Raphinha is not the only one with the view that FIFA has prioritized money over player’s welfare.
Former Liverpool Coach, Jürgen Klopp also slammed the introduction of the expanded Club World Cup format, calling it the ‘worst idea ever.’
Klopp said: “It’s a pointless competition. Whoever wins it will be the worst winner of all time because they’ll have played all summer and then gone straight back into the league,” Klopp said.
“There are people who have never been involved in the day-to-day business of football and are now coming up with ideas.
“It’s too many games. I fear that next season we will see injuries like never before. If not then, they’ll come during or after the Club World Cup.
“There’s no real recovery for those involved, neither physically nor mentally.”
Recall, Softfootball reported that Raphinha is not pleased with the timing of the Club World Cup and he is not alone in this regard. However, FIFA and President Gianni Infantino has gone on with the tournament that is proving to be success so far.
Raphinha has enjoyed ‘three weeks of vacation’ in Brazil and will be hoping to join Barcelona’s pre-season which begins on July 13 in top physical condition.
