Bellerin explains "mixed feelings" about not being with Spain in Qatar
The Barça right-back would love to play for his country but is not a fan of this World Cup
Héctor Bellerín was named by GQ magazine as one of the Men of the Year 2022. The Barcelona full-back received recognition for being "a different athlete, a right-back with his own personality," as well as having "a very marked style both on and off the pitch."
The American magazine of reference for men's fashion and lifestyle took advantage of the award to talk with the Barça defender about various topics.
One of the points that Bellerín referred to was the Qatar 2022 World Cup and his absence from the Spanish National Team.
“I have mixed feelings," he said. "As a footballer, not being in Qatar and in the national team is something that saddens me, but there is a part of me that is happy because I don't know if I would be able to enjoy the burden of the 6,500 people who died participating in the process of the World Cup. People from countries like Pakistan or Bangladesh, the majority of them men between the ages of 30 and 40 who were only looking for a decent life for themselves and their families."
The Barcelona player continued with his criticism and, in reference to the controversy, stated that "in the end, football comes back to being a bit of a reflection of our society, of greed, of selfishness and of continuing to enlarge all those things that separate us and that lead us to disagreement and inequality."
Bellerín, however, provided a solution to alleviate those issues that tarnish the sport: "The only way to remove this barrier and move forward is to seek humanity, empathy and love among ourselves and make our communities and the networks that come together within it grow."
The player has always stood out for using his public image and the pull he has to point out different current problems, such as climate change or war conflicts, or others more typical of football, such as machismo or homophobia that exists in the sport.
"In a society as polarised as ours, let's stop seeing each other so much for our conditions and our ideas and start seeing each other for what we all are: people," he added.
"We must help groups that have been oppressed, we must give them space so that their voice is heard better. It is the only way to move forward and to know and respect others. We, who are in the public spotlight, are the first that should help and support."
