Barrios proud to play for Paraguay

06 June 2010 19:18

Borussia Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios insists he has not betrayed his home country of Argentina by choosing to represent Paraguay at the World Cup.

The 25-year-old's mother is Paraguayan and the forward has chosen to represent them rather than the country of his birth, however he insists the decision was not made out of spite at not being called up by Diego Maradona.

"I am not angry with Maradona for not giving me a chance," he told Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper. "I am proud to be Paraguayan, thanks to my mother who was born in Asuncion. But I also have an Argentinian passport."

He added: "It was not a tough choice at all - it is a pleasure! I am very happy to be in the squad and there is nothing more beautiful than that, and I am thankful to everybody who has supported me."

Source: PA