England Manager Fabio Capello Calls For End To 'Stealing' Of Young Stars

England manager Fabio Capello has hit out at an apparent theft of talent in national sides and has called on governing bodies to put a stop to the "stealing" of players at club level.

The Italian has questioned Germany's use of footballers with Turkish origin, especially at last year's World Cup in South Africa, suggesting that players shouldn't be able to acquire new passports to pick and choose which country they can play for.

He told The National: "A line needs to be drawn. Richer clubs are talent-scouting and stealing players by bidding higher and not thinking about the consequences for those countries.

"These players are acquiring new passports. Germany had five of Turkish origin who opted to represent them and we all know what happened.

"Problems need to be addressed. Decisions need to be made. Players can be bought, especially when they come from poorer backgrounds, where their families need the financial resources.

"I do not accept that, having trained as a player, a different team can pop by and steal the player from me. Uefa should pass new rules allowing people to reap the seed that's been sown instead of having talents leave when they receive a major offer.

"I've spoken to Michel Platini and he's resolute. In future, clubs will be forbidden to steal players from abroad at a very young age."

He continued: "Ghanaian journalists have asked me why I selected Danny Welbeck to play for England because now he cannot represent Ghana.

"But this isn't true. He was already at Manchester United. Before the selection I called his father and asked if I could select the boy.

"The father took time before agreeing to the selection.

"It was a personal decision, I spoke to the family and they were fine with their son playing for England. He was born and brought up in England.

"The rest of the German national team players were born in Germany or have never played for the national team of their origin.

"But with those other five players Turkey could have performed much better."

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