Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville has criticised Gabby Agbonlahor after he suggested that Trent Alexander-Arnold should retire from international football.
The controversial comments came after England manager Gareth Southgate said that Alexander-Arnold was not as good an all-round footballer as Kieran Trippier, whilst selecting Kyle Walker and Reece James ahead of him on a regular basis.
Former Aston Villa forward Agbonlahor said on TalkSPORT “If I was Trent I would retire from international duty if I don’t get in the World Cup squad. I’d retire until a new manager took charge of England and gave me the opportunity, 100%.
“What’s the point in going away on these international breaks? Stay with your club, rest and prepare yourself for Liverpool. "For Southgate to come out and say Trippier is all-round better than Trent, I think that’s an insult. I do like Trippier but Trent is an all-around better player. Walker and James for me are better than Trent but don’t say Trippier. Come on, jokes over Gareth.”
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Neville, who featured for Liverpool’s fierce rivals Everton and Manchester United across a lengthy career, came out against Agbonlahor’s comments via Twitter saying that the retirement notion was ‘ridiculous’.
The former England Women’s boss picked up 59 caps for his country between 1996-2007.
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Alexander-Arnold is widely regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world, but has only picked up 17 caps for England across four years.
He hasn’t started this season particularly well though, but if he is going to be fourth choice for the Three Lions it would be a waste of his talent.
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Topics: Phil Neville, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool
Chris Stonadge