Former Bayern Munich and Inter Milan defender Lucio has hit back at Marco Materazzi for telling him he'd be better off retiring from football.
Speaking to Lance magazine last week, Materazzi said he could not understand how his former Inter teammate Lucio, 35, could still be playing. "It's pointless persisting," he said. "If you don't call it a day at the right time, you risk making a fool of yourself."
Not so, according to the central defender, who has just signed a contract with Palmeiras. "Materazzi's a nasty person," he responded, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "He's only talking out of resentment.
"He's one of those kind of people who goes onto the field with the sole intention of doing harm; he's violent. Now he's stopped playing, he uses the same violence with his words. He's repressed."
The pair celebrated Champions League glory together in 2010, although Lucio was preferred at the time by coach Jose Mourinho. That choice was not necessarily shared by Materazzi, who criticised Lucio's performance in the final against Bayern Munich.
"At the end of the first half, Mourinho came down really hard on him," he said . "He said he would kill him if he raced forwards out of defence again. We should build a statue for Samuel for managing to play alongside him."
Soccer Hot News
RVP´s club struggles could spark World Cup run
Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal said Robin van Persie’s struggles at club level could help him perform at the World Cup in Brazil.
Van Persie, and Manchester United, have endured a tough season, and despite scoring 10 goals in 15 Premier League outings – including seven goals in his past nine – Van Gaal said the striker’s lack of influence on his club’s fortunes could leave him hungry to ensure the Dutch succeed at Brazil 2014.
“The football he is experiencing now at Manchester United may be difficult for him but that could lead to him wishing to show his capability, his technique and his tactical skills at the World Cup,” Van Gaal said.
“I think he’ll be great in the World Cup because he loves to play in the Dutch squad.
“He played well in the qualifiers and was more influential than ever so I hope he will continue this.”
Van Persie broke a national record as he scored 11 goals in the qualifying phase to help the Netherlands reach Brazil – where they will take on Spain, Chile and Australia in Group B.
But Van Gaal also threw open the door to who would lead his attack, despite Van Persie carrying the captain’s armband.
“It could be that I pick Van Persie, (Arjen) Robben, Rafael van der Vaart, (Wesley) Sneijder,” the coach said.
“But I could also go for the young guys that I’ve brought into the team over the last two years.
“We still have two months to see.”
Van Persie was named in Van Gaal’s squad for a friendly with France on March 5, alongside fellow Premier League players Tim Krul (Newcastle), Michel Vorm (Swansea City), Martin Stekelenburg (Fulham), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa) and Leroy Fer (Norwich City).
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