Brazil captain, Dani Alves has berated Lionel Messi for stating that the 2019 COPA America tournament was designed to favour the host country.
Messi whose Argentine squad emerged third after losing out to host country Brazil in the semi-final, lashed out at CONMEBOL and the tournament saying:
“There is no doubt, the whole thing is set up for Brazil.
“I did not want to be part of this corruption. We shouldn’t have to be part of this disrespect we suffered during the Copa America.
“We could have gone further, but we weren’t allowed into the final. Corruption, referees and all the rest stopped people from enjoying the football.”
Reacting to the statement by Messi whom he played alongside at Barcelona, Dani Alves stated that the Argentine was being disrespectful.
“A friend is not always right just because he’s a friend. You can say it in the heat of the moment, but I still won’t agree.
“Firstly, he’s disrespecting an institution such as the Selecao, in my view. Secondly, he’s being disrespectful with several professionals who put a lot of things aside so they could be there fighting for a dream.
“I’m a friend who always tells the truth when it’s due, and I think he was wrong for saying these things,” Alves told SporTV’s ‘Bem Amigos’.