In early December, xenophobic and discriminatory tweets, dating from 2011 to 2013, published by Pablo Matera, the captain of Argentina, and two of his teammates, emerged.
In an interview with Figaro, Gonzalo Quesada, the Argentine manager of Stade Français, where Matera plays, to seek to understand the why of such remarks, if he finds them inexcusable.
How does Pablo Matera feel today?
Gonzalo Quesada:
He's very ashamed of it, a lot of regrets.
He couldn't remember all the bullshit he had written but remembered that, on all subjects, it was anything that he and his buddies wrote.
He said it himself: it was a bunch of immature little idiots.
It's a shame because, even if, for some of us, we have forgiven him, we have turned the page, we accompany him and we support him, unfortunately for him, for a long time, he will be marked by that .
How were his explanations perceived?
I told him he shouldn't have any illusions.
The process is underway but it will take time ... It is very individual.
Most players have understood that mistakes of youth, more or less stupid, everyone has made.
Even if hers are serious.
Many accepted his apologies, forgave him.
But, for some, it will take longer.
It's up to him to do what is necessary to get closer to them.
She's a great person, so over time everything will be fine, I'm confident.
Read the full interview with Gonzalo Quesada here
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Quesada in Figaro: "unfortunately, for a long time, Pablo (Matera) will be marked by his words"