体坛英语新闻：Chile football chief says Claudio Bravo refused national call-up

SANTIAGO, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo turned down selection for Chile's national squad after team officials refused to meet his demands, the country's football federation chief said on Thursday.

The 34-year-old was originally included on coach Reinaldo Rueda's 24-man list for friendlies against Sweden and Denmark later this month before withdrawing on Wednesday.

"Any player can make suggestions or recommendations and its up to the coaching staff to heed them or not," Chile's football federation president Arturo Salah told T13 Radio. "But it's something else to subject your availability to those conditions."

According to media reports, the former Barcelona player made the decision after officials rejected his request to allow goalkeeping coach Julio Rodriguez to travel with the squad.

Bravo took to social media on Thursday to explain his absence.

"I had a very cordial meeting with Reinaldo Rueda in Manchester, where I told him that I would be delighted to participate in this new process," he said. "The only thing I said was that I was worried about a topic that is very important for me: my preparation and training, reasons that the federation was already aware of.

"I haven't received any call from the federation or Arturo Salah to resolve this matter. For this reason I had already scheduled a trip with my family. I deeply regret that they are calling me up against my will, I consider that I have earned a minimum of respect in the Chilean national team. I hope you understand my refusal in this opportunity."

Bravo has been relegated to second-choice goalkeeper at Manchester City following the arrival of Brazilian Ederson last summer.

Last October, local media reported that he fell out with some national teammates following the team's failure to qualify for this year's World Cup in Russia.

Salah added: "We are starting a new process and it is necessary to respect the roles of each one in the work of the national team. There is no player with privileges.

"Claudio has the doors open. He is an important player for the national team and we hope that in the future he will have the clarity to do what the players do."

Chile, the reigning Copa America champions, will face Sweden at Friends Arena in Solna on March 24 before an encounter against Denmark at Copenhagen's Aalborg Stadium three days later.