OPINION
Patrick Bamford will be switching teams in June. The good news for Leeds United is that he is preparing to change his country rather than club allegiance. Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy revealed at his media conference on Thursday that the striker has “said yes” to representing the Irish after previously playing for England at Under-21 level. Bamford will not make his bow in the internationals this month against Gibraltar and Georgia, but McCarthy is confident on having him on board for the Ireland’s fixtures in June when the domestic season ends. This is good news for Leeds in terms of timing, as it means the £7million star will not be at risking of getting injured on international duty this month. Many Ireland fans have welcomed Bamford’s change to their nation through the grandparent ruling at a time when their roster of forwards is weaker than it has been for a long time. Others, including England and Irish followers, are less impressed by the switch.
Mick on Bamford:
"My last contact with him was on Saturday morning, they won Friday night. I just congratulated him on his goals, and just asked him if he still wanted to join us and he said, 'yes." I'm pretty positive"#COYBIG
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 7, 2019
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below:
Patrick Bamford deciding to play for Ireland is a disgrace. We were all waiting to see him come on in the 88th minute at home to Kosovo at 6-0 up?
— Matt (@MattvSAFC) March 7, 2019
From now on he's Paddy Bamford! ?????? #LUFC https://t.co/hjNWzBhPru
— Shaun Cronin (@ShaunCronin7) March 7, 2019
As an Irish man i think this is great, I didn’t know much of Bamford before he signed for us but he is well ahead of any other striker we have in the Irish squad
— Brian Murray (@bmurr07) March 7, 2019
Good news
— Andrew Fitzgerald (@ohnahbah) March 7, 2019
Should wait until he is a premier league player b4 he gets his next cap……So no more caps for him then
— Mark Rigney (@MarkRigney1979) March 7, 2019
Really depressing news.
The disconnect grows ever wider
— Name Cannot Be Blank (@TonyConkers) March 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/kennylynch12/status/1103635272699465729
https://twitter.com/adamos29/status/1103677382144258048
https://twitter.com/GrahamScutzy/status/1103673336356372481
https://twitter.com/redryangunn86/status/1103645272859705344