Chris Wilder warns Sheffield United struggler who's dating Love Island WAG to 'button it'

Posted Saturday, March 30, 2024 by Dailystar.co.uk

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder slammed one of his players for blaming the club's dire Premier League form for missing out on playing senior international football

Chris Wilder urged Sheffield United midfielder Vini Souza to "button it" after claiming the club's poor results cost him an opportunity to play for Brazil.

The Blades' boss returned to the club last December to try and save the club from relegation but a swift return to the Championship looks on the cards for the struggling side who sit 20th in the Premier League table.

Having won just one league game since November, United are eight points adrift from safety with games against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur still to come.

Ahead of their return to Premier League duty on Saturday (March 30) where they host Fulham at Bramall Lane, Wilder took aim at midfielder Vini Souza who seemingly blamed United's poor showing this season for him omission from the Brazil squad for their friendlies against England and Spain this past week.

In response to the 24-year-old, Wilder, 56, urged: "The players have got to do their talking on the pitch. Not in the media or in other interviews. He got left out of our last game because of his performance against Arsenal (a 6-0 home defeat) in the one before.

"If Vini shows the consistency then he’ll get the plaudits and the recognition from afar". Souza was signed last August from Belgian outfit Lommel and has yet to play for his national team, only achieving three appearances for Brazil's U20 side back in 2017.

Discussing his absence from their latest squad which was decimated by injury, he said: "Not because of me, but because of the situation at my club. I think that for the national team it’s a bit of a problem. That’s my opinion. But not in relation to my football.

"I think that for my football I could [get called up], I really could. But there’s the whole thing, you know. My team doesn’t keep the ball much either. That’s very important for the national team. So it’s going to weigh a bit. And the players who went can defend and have the ball, so they can stand out more. And, well, the guys are doing a brilliant job too. So I was really cool."

While Souza has struggled to enjoy a fruitful experience since arriving at Sheffield, he's certainly enjoyed his time off the field as he's reportedly dating Love Island star Arabella Chi.

Chris Wilder warns Sheffield United struggler who's dating Love Island WAG to 'button it'
The 33-year-old previously dated Manchester City defender Arabella Chi (Image: Instagram)

The 33-year-old - who previously dated Manchester City defender Ruben Dias - has starred on the recent all-stars edition of the hit show and has been getting to know the 24-year-old.