THE “world’s most beautiful footballer” has revealed she is open to a move to England.
Ana Maria Markovic, 22, has hinted that a move to join an English club could be on the cards.
Speaking to Swiss newspaper 20 Minuten, she said: “I would be most interested in going to England later.”
Yet despite teasing a move to an English side, the Grasshoppers and Croatia national team striker went on to say staying in Switzerland for another year felt like the right career move.
She said: “I’m not ready to go abroad yet because Grasshoppers gives me a certain appreciation and I’m feeling very comfortable at the moment.”
Her comments came during an interview in which she also claimed female players face much more discrimation on social media than their male colleagues.
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She added: “What makes the difference between men and women is, for example, when I show myself in a bikini on social media or when Erling Haaland [shows himself] in his swimming trunks.
“Erling almost certainly doesn’t get the same sexist comments.
“We women are good at standing up for each other, but what I wish for is that men start standing up for us too.
“Men always talk about ‘men of honour’, but it would be really honourable if they stood behind us in such situations.”
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Markovic, who boasts over one million followers on Instagram, rejects being called the “sexiest” female player on the planet.
She said: “I like articles that call me the most beautiful footballer – or one of the most beautiful – because it makes me happy to hear that I’m beautiful.
“But then there are newspaper articles describing me as the ‘sexiest’ player in football. That doesn’t sit well with me. Also, because of my family.”
The Croatian forward said she was contacted by a number of famous football players, including Brazil and PSG ace Neymar, after her name hit headlines over the summer.
She said: “Of course I’m in contact with other footballers, we do the same job.
“Whether it’s the male Grasshoppers players or international footballers, the exchange is always there – but only on a footballing basis.
“Neymar is an outstanding footballer. I hope that I can persuade him to support women’s football and that he can also do his part off the field.
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“Because the male footballers can achieve a lot with their reach on social media.”
Markovic added that her goal is to advocate equality and “be a role model for young footballers”.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
