Patrick Bamford makes a surprise admission looking forward and gives his opinion on what is known to be a touchy subject with many.
The much loved Leeds United forward has proved a lot of people wrong in his debut Leeds season of the 20/21 Premier League, and even caused a debate with the football world over whether he should have been called up for England.
He has now claimed that he would love to represent Great Britain in men’s football at the Olympics. Team GB have not entered a men’s team into the games since 2012, when the likes of Micah Richards, Aaron Ramsey, Ryan Giggs and Daniel Sturridge featured.
View this post on Instagram
They ended up getting knocked out in the quarter-finals by South Korea in a penalty shootout and have not taken part since, however Bamford states he would be keen to feature as an overage player if a team is entered in 2024, with none being put forward for this year’s event .
Speaking to the official Olympics website, he said: “You know, it’s still in the future and obviously there’s still discussions to be had between all the home nations.
“It’s the only chance I would get to go to an Olympics and there are not many people who can say they’ve represented Great Britain at the Olympics.
“So 100%, that would be something I’d love to do, and hopefully it gets worked out.”
Squads can include three players over the age of 23 but the ability of clubs to prohibit involvement can often prevent star players from taking part.
Bamford’s stock has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last 12 months after helping Leeds clinch promotion to the Premier League and then delivering a 17-goal haul in the top flight.
Meanwhile, Patrick Bamford explains why taking the knee remains so important in the battle against racism.
He and his Leeds teammates have been taking the knee to protest discrimination since football returned from an enforced hiatus in June last year.
The 27-year-old has defended the taking of the knee, reiterating a point made consistently by footballers that it is not done to support an extremist movement.
Speaking again to the official Olympics website, he said: “The players who are taking a knee, they’re not doing an extremist movement, they’re standing up for equality, basically, that people shouldn’t be judged on skin tone, race, religion, anything like that.
“It starts with education. No child is born a racist or prejudiced, and they’re kind of educated, and that is what they grow up being taught, is how they kind of mould into that figure. So I think it starts with education, but that’s kind of a long-term thing.
“I think in terms of being able to change things in the short term, the easiest way and it’s probably going to upset a lot of people is by financial penalty. I guarantee people will think twice about it, if they’re starting to then have to worry about if they’re having to pay fines for that.”
Bamford joined in a social media boycott back in April, during which players, clubs, sporting bodies and athletes did not use any platforms for four days in order to make a stand against online abuse and discrimination.
However, he has conceded that more needs to be done to tackle the abuse people face online.
He said: “I don’t think it’s had a long-term impact like people probably hoped it would.
“I think that there has to be sterner measures again.”
Negotiations over Patrick Bamford’s next Whites contract have been in the planning for some time, but there’s no concern over the striker’s future.
View this post on Instagram
Approaching his fourth season under Marcelo Bielsa, life at Leeds is good.
“The only club I’ve been at longer was Chelsea but I was always on loan and stuff there,” he told the YEP.
“I think this time round is probably the most settled I’ve been. I love living in the area, I love the club, it’s like a family in football. I can’t speak highly enough of how everything has gone.
“It couldn’t have gone any better. I had a little bit of a sticky start with the injury but since then it’s all been uphill.”
“I think they go hand in hand,” he said on the integrity and pressure going hand in hand when it comes to playing for a club like Leeds.
“Sometimes, if you’re not playing well you take that off the pitch and take it home with you.
“Likewise if you’re not settled at home you can take it onto the pitch sometimes.
“It’s crucial, first thing first, to make sure you’re settled off the pitch because it gives you a clear head when you go to play.
“You see players who come to new clubs, new surroundings and they do find it difficult and I think that’s why.
“Sometimes it feels intense, sometimes it’s nice to shut off from the world a bit, turn your phone off and ignore everything that’s going on.
“But it’s part and parcel of it, especially modern day.”
SEE MORE: Patrick Bamford hits back at Aston Villa fans over viral video
Fans reacted as Patrick Bamford makes a surprise admission and gives his opinion on a touchy subject…
@chunkylover2002: Speedily read as bamford starts for womens olypmic team. Need to scroll slower
@DRinHG: Fencing or dressage?
@JordR23: All hail Sir Pat 💙💛
@TingPaiTour: Patrick Bamford, an ambassador of football and global environment.👏
@Ken_M_Browne: This interview confirms things I thought I knew about @Patrick_Bamford… Thoughtful, aware, articulate. Supports women’s football, stands up to racism, scores great goals. @LUFC are lucky to have this fella.
@sazzybm: Hero #lufc
@leaguelyblonde: Read. This. 😍
@BatesyV5: Thought he was playing then.
@Patrick_Bamford if it’s love island you’ve lost all respect 😏😂 https://t.co/HwZYHrcTmF
— arniegk1994🏆💙💛 (@arniegk1994) July 18, 2021
You must be logged in to post a comment Login