BEN BRERETON DIAZ has been dropped by Chile – because he cannot speak to his team-mates.
The striker, 24, is on loan at Sheffield United from Villarreal this season.
However, he will not be linking up with Chile for the upcoming international break.
That is because he was dumped from Ricardo Gareca’s squad as the South Americans take on Albania and France in friendlies.
And the Chile boss explained the snub was because Brereton Diaz does not know the Spanish language used in Chile, something he believes is “essential”.
Gareca said: “I would like him to learn Spanish, I think it is important.
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“He was called up for the Copa America two years ago, he has had enough time to [learn how to] speak Spanish.
“It is something that I personally told him, that I would like him to speak Spanish.
“I consider it essential for communication.
“Communication with his team-mates, with me, with the coaching staff, with the people [and] with the press.”
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Gareca added that the striker would learn the language if he was “really interested” in keeping his place in the Chile squad.
Brereton-Diaz was born in Stoke to an English father and Chilean mother.
And despite representing England 19 times at youth level, the then Blackburn star earned a shock Chile call-up in 2021 when a group of fans spotted his dual heritage while playing Football Manager.
Brereton Diaz was then included in Chile’s team for the 2021 Copa America as La Roja reached the quarter-finals before losing to Brazil.
At club level, he left Ewood Park after 47 goals in 176 appearances last summer when his contract expired.
The forward joined Villarreal on a free transfer but with no goals in 20 games, he joined the Blades on loan hoping to score the goals to keep them in the Premier League.
Brereton Diaz scored in his opening two games but has not found the net since January.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
