I have a disagreement with him, but he is Iran's number one / Latifi: Be sure to bring Beiranvand to Esteghlal!

Ali Latifi, despite criticizing Beiranvand's behavior in recent years, supports his move to Esteghlal.

According to "Varzesh Se", after Esteghlal's victory against Qatar's Al Gharafa, Ali Latifi, the veteran of the Blues, spoke to our reporter about the various issues of this team. In another part of his speech, he addressed the rumors about the possibility of Alireza Biranvand's presence in Esteghlal, a topic that has been accompanied by different reactions from the veterans and fans of this team in recent days.

While praising Habib Farabbasi's performance, Latifi emphasized that his criticism of Biranvand's behavior should not cause the goalkeeper's technical abilities to be ignored. Also, referring to Biranvand's heroic character and comparing him with Ahmadreza Abedzadeh, he believes that the presence of such a player can help Esteghlal, although he considers this goalkeeper's sidelines and comments to be his weaknesses.

In the following, you will read Latifi's conversation with Sports Three:

*Are you talking about Habib Farabbasi's performance and the rumors about the possibility of Alireza Biranvand's presence in Esteghlal and his interest in this team?

In the first stage, I must say that Far Abbasi has done a very good job, but I have always tried not to look at black and white people in my life. Biranvand was definitely interested in Esteghlal from the past and wanted to come to this team, but in the end he went to Persepolis. From a moral point of view, considering his behavior in the last few years, I have a big difference of opinion with him and I don't like his behavior, but this does not mean ignoring his abilities on the field. I believe that Biranvand is by far the best goalkeeper in Iran.

*One of the remarkable points about Biranvand is his heroic character. His teammates have often talked about the spirit he brings to the team, and this is what Esteghlal has felt lacking in recent years.

That's exactly how it is. In our generation, I was a teammate with Mr. Abedzadeh. He was one of the best goalkeepers in the history of Iranian football, but apart from his technical abilities, his most important feature was his spirit that made him lead the team forward. This feature even exceeded his technical abilities. As you said about Biranvand's heroic character, he also has this feature.

In my opinion, Biranvand, both at the national level and at the club level, in addition to his technical abilities, has the spirit of a champion and transmits this spirit to other players. Any team where Biranvand is present can benefit from his personality and abilities. Of course, in addition to these features, there are many edges around him. The friendships he has with the players can also help the team, but if the edges and inappropriate comments are removed, he can really be a perfect player. Biranvand should know how to keep silent in situations where there is no need to speak. Some of his words hurt himself and his team. However, from a technical point of view, I consider him to be the best goalkeeper in Iran and I believe that if he comes to Esteghlal, he can be the number one option in any situation.

The edges of the past and his presence in Persepolis have inflamed the conditions of his transfer to Esteghlal. I hope that Iranian football will go in a direction where players can easily move from one club to another club, just like in Spanish football, if it suits the technical needs of the team. There are also margins there, but something must happen in Iranian football that a player can go from Esteghlal to Persepolis or vice versa, without such a transfer turning into a crisis. The main problem is created by the players themselves, chants, irrelevant comments and emotional words cause the situation to become inflamed. In the past, players went from Esteghlal to Persepolis or from Persepolis to Esteghlal and then they started chanting and making comments that sometimes did not match the reality, for example, they said that they were fans of their new team since childhood. These behaviors are heavy for the fans of the previous team and inflame the atmosphere of football. They make comments that are more to influence the fans. I think more attention should be paid to these issues.

* Amir Hossein Sadeghi, the former captain of Esteghlal, also spoke about Biranund and said that if he comes to Esteghlal, he will stop supporting this team. What do you think about this comment?

Amirhossein Sadeghi is my friend and a very good person. He is extremely independent and fanatical and is considered one of the proudest players of this team. I agree that Amirhossein Sadeghi and people like him have the right to comment on the issues related to Esteghlal, but I believe that when someone makes such a statement in this way, it may unintentionally harm football. When Amir Hossein or any other veteran takes such a position, in my opinion, he speaks more from emotions and practically puts the fans in front of the club; Especially a part of the fans who react based on prejudice instead of making football decisions. This event closes the hands of the club. I am sure that from a technical point of view, Mr. Tajernia and Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh also accept Biranvand and probably welcome his presence, because he is not a small player. Who doesn't like having such a player in their team? Veterans and fans should also consider the fact that sometimes recruiting a player from a rival team, in addition to strengthening their own team, can also lead to weakening the rival. Everyone knows how much Amirhossein Sadeghi is biased towards independence, I can even swear that he is strongly independent, but I don't think we should let bias make us distance ourselves from a technical point of view.

*Probably, Amirhossein Sadeghi's words were also emotional, because everyone knows the technical abilities of Alireza Biranvand.

It is exactly that, but these kinds of comments can harm independence. When we give an emotional opinion, we put the fans in a position to put pressure on the club and may not end up transferring a player who can help the team. I always try not to be biased or biased, because I don't know all the conditions and plans of the club. I emphasize again that I am sure that Mr. Tajernia and Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh agree with the presence of Alireza Biranvand, because he can become one of the pillars of the team. Biranvand's behavior in recent years is not acceptable in my opinion, and I have a serious difference of opinion with him in this regard, but I cannot ignore his technical abilities. He is definitely the best goalkeeper in Iran. For this reason, I ask you dear veterans not to make their comments in a way that puts pressure on the club, at least in terms of recruiting players at this level, it is better to let decisions be made based on the technical needs of the team.

* Last season, when Isa Al Kathir was supposed to come to Esteghlal, we talked with you and you were against this transfer. At that time, you said that technically he has no place in Persepolis and why should he come to Esteghlal? But now you have a different opinion about Biranund.

Yes, exactly. The reasons at that time were also technical. I said Al Kathir technically does not work for Esteghlal. Of course, at the same time, I said that if the technical staff wants it, it's a different matter. Mr. Sapinto himself wanted Al-Kathir's presence, but when the fans pressed him, he said he didn't know about this! Mr. Joybari did not have the courage to bring up this great truth and say that Sapinto wanted to recruit this player.