Joey Barton has been criticized after slamming the England stars, insinuating they are too concerned about their appearance and ‘trying to look like Drake’ to take on a serious challenge on the international stage.
England are currently training at St. George’s Park ahead of the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, with Gareth Southgate naming his squad for both matches last week.
However, three days before the first match against the South American giants at Wembley, four stars were missing from the group, although they appeared to be training indoors with some physio and gym work, rather than nursing injuries.
Pictures have been released of Southgate’s men as preparations continue, but the outspoken Barton was far from pleased with what he saw.
‘Culture is completely wrong. Training in diamond earrings and leggings. I won’t win any sausage!’ he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Joey Barton was far from happy with the pictures that emerged from the training camp in England
Barton claimed that the team was too interested in their performances to win anything
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‘Too many weak, dishonest men in leadership positions. I enjoy looking more like the rapper Drake than the great Bobby Moore.”
The image Barton commented on included a photo of Manchester City’s Kyle Walker, who recently won a historic treble for Barton’s former side under Pep Guardiola.
And social media users were quick to ridicule Barton, 41, for his post, pointing out the difference in individual accolades between him and the Man City star.
‘Joey Barton says Kyle Walker won’t win a sausage because of his earring. Kyle Walker has won the Premier League (5x), FA Cup (2x), League Cup (4x) and the Champions League,” one fan wrote on X.
“He also has a string of individual awards. Joseph Barton won the championship.”
Another said: ‘According to Joey Barton you’ll never win with Kyle Walker because he has an earring and wears leggings to practice. The same Kyle Walker who has a trophy ROOM because one cabinet is no longer enough.’
A third user wrote: “Joey Barton is trying to steal Kyle Walker who has literally won everything at club level,” before adding a clown emoji.
“Yes, I’m sure Kyle Walker, a treble winner and multiple England caps, will take some football advice from Joey Barton,” wrote a fourth.
Barton effusively praised Jude Bellingham, who he claimed was England’s best chance of success.
Fans on X were quick to point out the difference in the number of trophies Walker won compared to Barton
‘No earrings, no leggings, a real child. I hope they all follow him,” he added.
“He’s the best chance we have of winning anything. The rest isn’t worth a carrot. They all want to be rappers.’
Bellingham was pictured wearing similar England kit to his teammates as he carried out a passing drill ahead of Saturday’s match.
The Real Madrid midfielder comes into the squad as one of Europe’s leading stars after an excellent start to his career in the Spanish capital.
He is the leading goalscorer in LaLiga with 16 goals and three assists, while flourishing in a young midfield of Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, under the watchful eye of veterans Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
The Three Lions head to Germany this summer as one of the absolute favorites to go all out with rivals France, thanks to the depth of strength they can boast.
Barton responded to a photo of Walker during training, claiming players were trying to look like ‘Drake’
Jude Bellingham received some praise from the former Bristol Rovers manager
Bellingham starred in his first season for Real Madrid and is the current top scorer in LaLiga
Kylian Mbappé (right) and France are seen alongside England as favorites to go all the way
England manager Southgate has seen his squad depleted by injuries and will be crossing his fingers that he can at least call on his captain for games.
The games against Brazil and Belgium are Southgate’s final chances to assess his players before announcing his squad for this summer’s European Championship in Germany.
On Tuesday, Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo was handed his first-ever senior call-up for England ahead of their upcoming friendlies.
The 18-year-old was initially included in the Under-21 squad but has been included in Southgate’s squad for their matches later this month.