‘Not even considering that’: Nuno delivers blunt message regarding Tottenham duo

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Nuno Espirito Santo has spoken about the international situation involving Tottenham duo Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero.

The Spurs boss told Football London ‘what we expect is what we’re concerned about’, after he was asked whether he will stop them from travelling to Argentina this week or whether it’s on the players.

During the last international break, the above Tottenham duo, plus Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez and Emi Buendia were involved in quite a shambolic mess.

When travelling to South America, for World Cup qualifiers, they were expected to quarantine when visiting a red-list country in Brazil – and they seemingly broke the rules.

This angered the officials, who inside ten minutes of Argentina’s clash with Brazil, stormed the pitch and ordered the Premier League-based players to leave, which they did and the game was abandoned.

What made matters worse is that Lo Celso and Romero weren’t actually given permission to go from their domestic club.

And with the players called up once more, Nuno, understandably so, doesn’t want the same situation repeating itself and has called for the powers that be to step in and do something about it.

Nuno made it clear to Football London that ‘we want our players in national teams and we want them available for us also.’

“What we expect is what we’re concerned about,” said Nuno. “That the governing bodies make a decision that can protect the clubs in this international break.

“We don’t want this situation to repeat again so we don’t have our players. I always said, it’s very difficult to say no to a national team. It’s never been the case before. We’re facing this situation through the pandemic.

“What we want is protection – We want our players in national teams and we want them available for us also.

“Some guidance (from FIFA) – What we can’t afford is to have our players out again.”

It’s a problem for many teams whose players are going to travel to South America this weekend.

And it’s just an added and unnecessary headache for all involved because you can’t deny an individual the chance to represent their country, whether they are earning their 100th cap or their 1st.