A loud scandal occurred in Ukrainian football. As it turned out, the Bayer Leverkusen forward Artem Stepanov refused to go to the current camp of the youth national team of Ukraine (U-20). The reasons for this decision by the 17-year-old footballer were explained by the well-known commentator Viktor Vatsko.
Artem StepanovThe Ukraine U-20 team is preparing for the World Cup (U-20) that will be held in Chile in September-October. You all know perfectly well what the World Cup (U-20) is: it is already a showcase, it is already a status, it is already a responsibility. Oleksandr Petrakov, no matter how anyone feels about him, will forever be remembered in history as the coach who led the Ukraine U-20 team to win the World Cup (U-20) for the first time in history. And that very Ukraine U-20 team has also forever entered history. This is a high international level.
Last autumn, the center forward of Bayer Artem Stepanov caught a lot of attention. At the age of 17, he made his debut for his club's first team in the Champions League. And he is currently “lighting up” in the youth championship of Germany (U-19): 16 goals in 18 matches.
But Stepanov is not at the current camp in Turkey with the Ukraine U-20 team. This is despite the fact that we all know perfectly well about the shortage of center forwards in our football.
When I saw that Stepanov was not on the list of the Ukraine U-20 team, I was greatly shocked because we are talking about one of the strongest players with a Ukrainian passport of this age category. And, of course, I cannot understand and accept that a player of such a level and status is not in the team.
Of course, my WhatsApp could not help but get involved in this story. But from what I found out, I honestly say, I was deeply shocked. I am not choosing my words. Especially recalling all the conversations that took place last autumn.
Because Dmytro Mykhailenko (the head coach of the Ukraine U-20 national team - editor's note) called Stepanov to the U-20 team, but he did not come. He refused to come.
On phone calls — my WhatsApp tells me — the player and his father, who represents his interests and works, by the way, at Bayer, did not respond. At first, they did not give a concrete answer about whether the player would come or not, then they completely “froze”.
It is clear that Bayer received an official call letter from UAF. That is, a letter stating that UAF is inviting the player to the national team. Marcus Daun, an individual trainer and development coach (as it was signed in this letter), explained Stepanov's situation in correspondence with UAF from Bayer. And by the way, just in case someone thinks of something and wants to speculate, I have a screenshot of the letter saved.
So, in that letter, it was written that Stepanov's father had a conversation with the coach of the youth national team of Ukraine (U-21) Unai Melgosa. And it says that there was evidently some kind of agreement that the player would train with U-21, but would play for the Ukraine U-20 national team.
Now I will quote literally, because it is important: “Considering the previous problems with the coaching staff of U-20 (an extremely critical interview was evidently a decisive factor), the family rejected this option. Accordingly, the family informed me that U-20 is not an option for Artem at this time,” writes this Marcus Daun.
Do you understand what I just read to you? A Ukrainian footballer, a patriot, whose whole family swore that they are for Ukraine, that this is the motherland, and all that. Both in public and they called me personally, our mutual football acquaintances recounted, spoke, reassured.
So what does this mean? Mykhailenko either “stuffed” him at training, or gave some interview that he didn’t like — and that’s it, we got offended? Are we now going to twist everyone’s hands and tell what national team, with what coach we will play, and for whom — we will not play? The kid is 17 years old! 17 years old!!!
Though here, perhaps, the question is not for the kid, but for the father — Roman Stepanov, a former player of Volyn. Everything okay with you? How does it feel to live patriotically in Germany? And if tomorrow Xabi Alonso (head coach of Bayer - editor's note) gives an interview where he criticizes — will you resign from Bayer? Or is it not gonna fly with Bayer? And you can twist Ukraine however you want, you understand? We are currently talking about the World Cup where Ukraine will play. Does the Ukraine national team play often in World Cups?” — said Vatsko on the YouTube channel “Vatsko Live”.
