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‘Disgusting’… Harry Redknapp fuming with £50m Arsenal player
Harry Redknapp has become one of the latest football figures to criticise Arsenal defender Ben White for his alleged England snub.
The 77-year-old, speaking on , has claimed that the Gunners man’s purported decision to refuse a Three Lions call-up is “disgusting”.
On Thursday, England manager Gareth Southgate that White had made himself unavailable for selection for this month’s friendlies.
Speaking at his press conference after the squad announcement, Southgate said Arsenal sporting director Edu told him White did not want to be considered.
Predictably, this has caused plenty of reaction across the pundit and football fan world, with pretty much everyone having an opinion on the Arsenal man’s alleged stance.
Harry Redknapp fuming with Arsenal star Ben White
Redknapp is particularly unimpressed with White’s apparent refusal to play for England, and disagrees with Southgate’s stance that the door remains open on a potential return.
“I think Gareth Southgate said the door’s still open, didn’t he? The door should be slammed right in his mush,” the former Tottenham boss said about the £50million man.
“He doesn’t want to play for his country, he goes to the World Cup then comes home because he’s not getting in the team.
“I’m sorry, you’ve had your opportunity. You don’t want to play for England? You tell the Bobby Moores of this world who’s got 100-odd caps.
“The Shiltons, the Beckhams, the Rooneys – those people, go and tell the Billy Bonds of this world who didn’t get a cap and should have done, and all those great players that you don’t want to play for your country.
“I think it’s disgusting, I can’t have it… If I’m Gareth now I’m saying thanks very much, we won’t bother you again.”
Opinion
Not many things trigger such strong opinion in the world of football quite like a player turning down the opportunity to play for his country.
But rather than make White into a pantomime villain, it would be best to reserve judgement until/unless the situation becomes clear.
Nobody knows for certain what has happened with White in the England camp at the 2022 World Cup, and just speculating or going straight to judgement won’t change a thing.
Besides, England have plenty of good options at centre-back and at right-back, so they’ll be alright.