Hleb issues Chygrynskiy warning
442 Staff - Tuesday 08 September 2009, 22:38
Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb says new Camp Nou recruit Dmytro Chygrynskiy should learn the Catalan language as quickly as possible if he wants to be accepted by the fans.
The former Arsenal midfielder joined the la Liga giants last summer, but made just 19 league appearances in the club's unprecedented treble-winning campaign, with the midfielder struggling to displace the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi.
The Belarusian has since re-joined Stuttgart on loan in order to play regular first-team football.
And the 28-year-old has urged new signing Chygrynskiy, who has signed from UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk, to ensure he stays on the fans' side if he wants to be a success in Spain.
"In Catalunya the people who live there are very patriotic and the Ukrainian will have to speak their language to be accepted fully," he told the German media.
"His exploits on the pitch do not guarantee that they will accept him."