ENGLAND MIDFIELDER ALEX Oxlade-Chamberlain has admitted that he was wrong to ask Brazil superstar Neymar for his shirt during the sides’ friendly game last year.
The Arsenal player, nicknamed ‘The Ox’, scored a memorable goal to earn England a 2-2 draw at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana last June, but he was criticised for his mid-match request to Neymar.
The players subsequently swapped shirts after the game, but former Manchester United captain Roy Keane and Gareth Southgate, the current England Under-21 manager, took exception to Oxlade-Chamberlain’s behaviour.
Commenting on the game for British television, Keane said that Oxlade-Chamberlain should have been concentrating on the match and the 20-year-old has admitted that he made an inappropriate decision.
“I did ask him (Neymar) during the game. I gave him a little nudge,” Oxlade-Chamberlain said.
“Roy Keane hammered me for it. I didn’t try and make it too blatant. It just happened that the camera landed on me right at the time I nudged him.
“I agree with Roy. It’s not the way to go about things. I have to hold my hands up. You’re not in awe of these players. I’ve got massive respect for what he’s done in world football.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain was speaking ahead of England’s friendly game at home to Denmark on Wednesday.
