James Rodriguez has spoken out in protest at plans to form a European Super League - saying it would take the "spice" out of the game.
The Everton star says children grow up dreaming of playing in the Champions League and the World Cup and not a European Super League.
As the Blues released Rodriguez's comments, on their dedicated Spanish language Twitter account, the cracks were beginning to show in the Super League plans with Manchester City and Chelsea preparing to withdraw from the breakaway league.
Everton issued a fiercely worded statement earlier today before Farhad Moshiri called for the six rebel clubs, who had signed up for the ESL, to be deducted Premier League points.
And this evening, Rodriguez has had his say.
"I do not agree at all," the Colombian said.
"The spice is taken away from soccer, the teams that formed it benefit themselves. When you are a child, you dream of playing a champions league or a world cup, not a super league.
"If because of the pandemic, the big clubs have had a bad time, imagine the small ones. They suffered a lot."
