29th May, 2013
Real Mallorca’s largest shareholder, Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, has put a block on Giovani dos Santos’ release for the Mexican national team, and the player will therefore, not be available for the friendly against Nigeria on Friday.
Spanish news agency, La COPE claims that Ferrer has sent a letter to the Mexican Football Federation informing them the 24-year-old midfielder will not be joining up with his country’s squad before their World Cup 2014 qualifier with Jamaica next week.
Mexico are due to play the Super Eagles on Friday in Houston, just before the Jamaica game.
Mallorca are currently bottom of La Liga and need to beat Real Valladolid at home this weekend in the final game to have any chance of staying up – hence Ferrer’s insistence on having one of boss Gregorio Manzano’s key men available for the game.
Mexico have already appealed to FIFA law, which states that a player called up must be allowed to join the group five days before an international.
However, Ferrer has countered this by claiming that even though it is an official match, the 4 June date is not one designated by FIFA for internationals as the fixture has been brought forward to allow Mexico to compete in the Confederation Cup in Brazil.
Meanwhile, Chelsea and Super Eagles winger Victor Moses has stated that he is devastated not to able to join his national teammates for the busy schedule ahead of the team.
Moses who is currently down with injury has proven to be a vital link in the Super Eagles but he would however miss out on not just the Mexico friendly but the crunch World Cup qualifying matches as well as the Confederations Cup in Brazil.
Voicing his dismay via social media network twitter on Wednesday, Moses said he was left with no other option than to adhere to the instructions of Chelsea medics asking him to stay away from action.
“Devastated not to be able to represent my country this summer but have to respect medical advice on injury. I’ll be supporting though #nigeria,” Moses twitted.
Moses was helpful in South Africa as Nigeria secured her third Africa Cup of Nations AFCON trophy and was equally massive for Chelsea as they secure a Champions League berth for next season and also made history to follow-up their Champions League triumph with Europa League victory.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles were beaten 2-0 by Mexico in their opening game of the 2013 Toulon Tournament in France on Wednesday.
Morales’ double in both halves ensured the Mexican got off to a bright start.
The John Obuh coached side started off rather weakly, and it affected the most part of their 90 minutes affair with the North Americans.
Morales put Mexico ahead in the 28 minute of play, and though the Nigerian side rally round for an equaliser, the first period ended 1-0 with the Africans on the receiving end.
A second half most pundits thought would be better off, proved the worst for Nigeria as the tempo of their play pattern dropped.
That was where Mexico took advantage of, and it was Morales who completed his brace in the 72nd minute, with Nigeria unable to come back.