Argentina hero Emi Martinez has DENIED mocking France superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe netted a World Cup final hat-trick but it wasn't enough to help his nation win back to back tournaments. And Martinez, who was also beaten by the PSG striker from the spot in a dramatic shootout at the Lusail Stadium, was pictured holding a blow up doll with Mbappe's face on it during Argentina's open top bus parade in Buenos Aires.
Now Martinez has finally addressed his bizarre mockery of Mbappe in a recent interview with France Football. He said: I held it [baby doll] for like two minutes and I threw it away, that's all. How can I make fun of Mbappe? He scored four past me. Four goals in a final! He must think I am his toy baby! I have huge respect for Mbappe.”
The Aston Villa stopper exchanged words with Mbappe following the shootout in Qatar and had revealed he told the striker that he should be proud of himself, despite having to settle for a runners up medal.
“I told him he should be proud of himself and keep his head high, because he played a fantastic game and that he was one of the best players in the world,” Martinez added. “He was flying, we could not stop him.”
Martinez came under fire for dancing when France’s Aurelien Tchouameni fired his penalty wide and also made a coarse gesture when he was awarded Golden Glove trophy for keeping the most clean sheets at the tournament.
The 30-year-old has since explained that he did it because French fans were booing him during throughout. That resulted in his countryman Patrick Vieira claiming it 'took away a little bit from what Argentina achieved'.
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