Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka has told Leeds United forward Noah Okafor to 'keep your mouth shut and work' after the 25-year-old publicly criticised his exclusion from the national team. Okafor, who joined Leeds from AC Milan for £18m last summer, was left out of Murat Yakin's squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Kosovo.
Okafor, who has not played for Switzerland since November 2024, told the New York Times that he had received no communication from coach Yakin or sporting director Pierluigi Tami. 'Since then, I never spoke with the coach, not even a phone call or a message,' he said. 'For me, it makes no sense.'
Xhaka, who plays for Sunderland, revealed he spoke to Okafor before the interview. 'I had a phone conversation with Noah before his interview,' Xhaka told Blick. 'He was given opportunities at the European Championship and the World Cup. Personally, I would realistically assess the situation.'
The Switzerland captain added: 'Noah has great potential, which he hasn't shown often enough in recent years. Sometimes you have to look down, keep your mouth shut and work. That applies to everyone - including me. In the end, performance on the pitch is what matters.'
National teams director Tami also criticised Okafor's outburst, saying: 'This statement is not welcome. The timing is wrong, the form is wrong. If a player has a problem with a coach, he should only speak to him. He needs to have patience and humility.'
Okafor has made eight Premier League appearances for Leeds this season, scoring twice, as the club battles to avoid relegation.
