Manuel Valls: Rajoy's Words 'Not Only Indignant, but Hurtful'

Former French Prime Minister Manuel Valls stated that the recent comments by former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy regarding the French national football team are not only "indignant" but also deeply "hurtful."

Rajoy reportedly commented that the French team, while possessing a high level of skill, does not feature "French people." Valls, in an opinion piece for 'El Español,' argued that Rajoy's statement reveals a racist perspective, equating nationality with skin color. "This is simply called racism. And what ignorance of our history, sometimes tormented but rich in its diversity and linked to a former colonial empire across five continents," Valls wrote.

Valls, who was born in Barcelona to Spanish parents and became a naturalized French citizen at age twenty, asserted his strong connection to France. "I have not a drop of French blood, but France runs through my veins," he stated. He also noted that out of the 26 players called up by French coach Didier Deschamps, only three were born outside France: Marcus Thuram, Michael Olise, and Brice Samba.

Furthermore, Valls turned the criticism back on Rajoy and the Spanish national team. He highlighted that Spain's own squad includes players with immigrant backgrounds, such as Lamine Yamal, whose parents are from Morocco and Equatorial Guinea, and Nico Williams, whose parents are Ghanaian. Aymeric Laporte, born in France, also plays for Spain. "Following his reasoning, there would be no Spaniards either," Valls concluded, suggesting Rajoy's comments insult his own team as much as the French.