“They even say he doesn’t want Ecuador to swap shirts with Messi. I’m Ecuadorian and I love this country”, these are his words to critics of tricolor goalkeeper Hernan Galindes | Football | Sport of

As Ecuador beat Uruguay 2-1 in Quito on Tuesday to head into the second round of South American qualifying, tricolor goalkeeper Hernan Galindes responded to criticism that he swapped shirts with Messi against Argentina in the autumn people lashed out. last Thursday.

“Some people even say that I don’t love this country and that I allowed myself to score goals. I have lived here for 12 years and I think I have shown respect and love for this country,” he said.

“They always take one side (criticism) and say I wasn’t born here and I’ve said it many times and I can’t argue with that and it wasn’t my decision that I wasn’t born here and that’s why I’m happy when When I made another save, I wanted to show my love for this country on the pitch,” Galindez added in his post-match statement to the media yesterday.

The goalkeeper seemed uncomfortable with questions from the media and insisted he was just another Ecuadorian.

“I’ve lived here for 12 years and both of my children are Ecuadorian, you don’t care, but I gave up a lot of money last year to come back to Ecuador to go to the World Cup and be able to represent them,” he insisted.

“They criticized me, they scored a goal against me, that’s okay, but don’t mess with my nationality, I don’t like that because I fought a lot to be Ecuadorian,” he added.

Regarding exchanging shirts with Messi, the goalkeeper said it was a promise he made to one of his sons to get clothes belonging to the Albiceleste star.

“Messi’s jersey is a gift for my son and I promised it to him a long time ago because I have played against him three times but I have never done it,” he said.

“I know I will be criticized for this, but what matters more to me is the joy my son feels when he receives his idol jersey. He is six years old and he deserves it,” Galindez concluded. (Four)