Al Musrati withdraws from the national team and criticizes: “There are no minimum conditions”
Libyan midfielder has decided to stop playing for the country’s senior team, which he represented on 40 occasions
Moatasem Al Musrati , former SC Braga player , who transferred permanently to Besiktas in the last winter transfer window for 12 million euros (plus €2.5 million in bonuses), announced this Tuesday his retirement from the Libyan national team, after 40 international appearances and one participation in the CAN, in 2014.
The 28-year-old defensive midfielder, who also played for Rio Ave and Vitória de Guimarães in Portugal, triggered criticism of the Libyan national team’s infrastructure and conditions.
“I decided to leave international football for reasons beyond my control. There are no minimum conditions, I wanted to give something special to my country and the Libyan people, but it is not possible. The national team is in chaos,” he said, recalling some episodes that are unacceptable for professional football.
“Before a game against Nigeria in 2019, there were maintenance works being carried out at the hotel where we were staying. We could not sleep or rest because of the noise, this is unacceptable, a professional cannot have distractions like this before a game. It seriously affects preparation and concentration. In addition, the coaches do not speak English, it is the players who have to translate everything at the airports and in all the bureaucratic problems. It is chaotic,” explained Al Musrati, in statements to the Libyan channel Al-Ahrar.
