Goalkeeper Lunin Addresses Fabricated Claims on National Team Commitment: I Wont Remain Silent

The goalkeeper for Real Madrid and the Ukrainian national team, **Andriy Lunin**, responded to recent claims regarding his unwillingness to represent his country. It should be noted that the goalie did not participate in the matches against France (0:4) and Iceland (2:0).

«In light of the misleading and outright fabricated reports circulating lately about my supposed refusal to play for the Ukrainian national team, I feel compelled to speak out, especially when my character is being questioned and my dedication to the team is in doubt.

Before sharing any information, I urge respected journalists to verify its accuracy. Has anyone ever heard me say that I am unwilling to join the national team or the head coach? The answer is ‘no’ because that’s simply unthinkable for me — I wouldn’t even consider not playing for Ukraine, let alone stating such a thing.

Playing for the national team is every footballer’s dream and aspiration, and it is an honor for me to represent our country. There have been numerous matches where I didn’t play or was substituted without any issues arising. So, what should change now, when we all understand that the team and the results matter most?

Everyone aspires to play, which is perfectly normal, but ultimately, the coach makes the decisions… Those decisions are based on what he believes is best for the team, and as players, we must accept that. The articles that have been published are false. The unprofessionalism of journalists who write such pieces or make these claims offends me both professionally and personally. It is wrong to use journalism and news outlets to mislead fans and create conflicts among us,” Lunin stated on his social media account.

So far this season, the goalkeeper has not played in any official matches, but he did receive a red card during the 10th round of La Liga against Barcelona (2:1).