Paulo Duarte criticises Ilaix Moriba: "When you have such a big ego, only you matter"

Guinea manager Paulo Duarte criticised Celta midfielder Moriba's demands for the number 10 shirt, saying his ego overshadowed team interests; Moriba was omitted from the squad.

Guinea manager Paulo Duarte publicly rebuked Celta de Vigo midfielder Ilaix Moriba for his behaviour during the international break, specifically his demands to wear the number 10 shirt. Moriba was left out of the squad for Guinea's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eritrea, which Guinea won 2-1.

Duarte expressed frustration at a press conference, questioning why Moriba felt entitled to the shirt and suggesting the player had even threatened not to play if his demand was not met. "When you have such a big ego, only you matter," Duarte said. "The 10 doesn't guarantee you a starting place. What matters is defending the club and the country."

The omission was officially attributed to physical discomfort, but Duarte's comments suggest disciplinary reasons were behind the decision. This is not Moriba's first controversy; he was sidelined during Celta's preseason last summer after arriving late to training sessions.