Roma director: "Smalling should be a starter if Maguire's called up "
Gareth Southgate opted against including Roma's English stars, Tammy Abraham and Chris Smalling in England's World Cup squad. Roma director Tiago Pinto criticizes England's decision in his interview.
Having scored 27 goals for
Romalast season, many expected
Tammy Abrahamto be called up as an understudy for Harry Kane. However, his slow start to the new season forced Southgate to turn his attention to Newcastle United's striker Callum Wilson. The presence of Manchester United's Harry Maguire over
Chris Smallingwasn't helpful to Tiago Pinto's criticism of Gareth Southgate's selection.
Pinto told
DAZN:<em>
"I cannot accept, both Roma and the representatives of other clubs, that people try to justify international call-ups with what is happening at club level.
"If Tammy is not part of the England squad because he didn't score over the last month, for example, but they called up a player benched for his club yesterday, then Smalling ought to be a starter for England."
On possible improvements for Tammy Abraham,
Pinto
added:
"I want to say we are satisfied with Tammy, but always with the perspective that he can still improve, and I am sure he will do.
"We're pleased to see our players go to the World Cup, because it is important for them, but I cannot accept that after a call-up there is talk about the way these players work at Roma as justification for a personal choice."
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