Away from Benfica, Richard Ríos eyes the World Cup: I feel I've risen... | OneFootball

he is one of the few Benfica players who still does not know whether or not he will go to the World Cup. With the biggest international tournament just around the corner, the footballer is included in Colombia’s list of 55 preliminary call-ups and does not hide that he is eager to represent the national team.

"I feel that everyone is so motivated and excited about what is coming. They do not want to miss out on anything. All 55 want to be there and, with great respect, they will fight for their place," Richard Ríos began by saying on the sidelines of an event held in Bogotá, where he spoke about his hopes of being at the World Cup.

"We watched the World Cup at the house of one of my mother’s friends, who invited us over. We did not have the channel," the footballer said about the emotions he experienced during the 2014 edition in Brazil. "I feel that I have worked my way up and I am on the verge of the World Cup. Now it is just a matter of waiting for the squad list," Ríos acknowledged, having seen Benfica put a protective price tag on him.

"I feel happy to be with him. I do not mean on the pitch, I mean off it as well. He is a fantastic person, he gives you advice, he is very ambitious, he always wants to win, he motivates us and we have a lot of respect for him. I am happy to have a friend off the pitch," said the Eagles’ number 20, praising former Porto player James Rodríguez.

"Now we are friends. But back then we were rivals. At home they taught me that if they mess with one of us, they mess with all of us. We have to support each other. That is what you see in the national team, we are united, all for one and one for all," Ríos explained, recalling the spat he had with Otamendi before the Colombian moved to Benfica in the summer.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.