Barnsley's homesick striker, Macedonian Georgi Hristov, says he is finding it hard to get a girlfriend in England because local girls are not pretty and drink too much.

Hristov, 21, who joined Barnsley from Partizan Belgrade for £1.5m last summer, is reported to have told a Belgrade sports magazine: "I'm finding it difficult to find a girlfriend in Barnsley, or indeed settle into a decent way of life.

"The local girls are far uglier than the ones back in Belgrade or Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, where I come from.

"Our women are much prettier. Besides, they don't drink as much beer as the Barnsley girls which is something I don't like at all."

"England is a strange country and I found it hard to adapt to living here. The main thing is that I am not on my own. To be honest I expected more of Barnsley as a town and a club."

His outburst has outraged local lasses and surprised club officials.

A Barnsley spokesman said: "We treat everybody the same and do whatever we can to help them settle in.

"Georgi has his own house and is popular with the fans. This is all something new."

Barnsley student Michelle Dodson, 21, said: "My reaction to his remarks is unprintable. He wants to look in the mirror before talking about us. He's no oil painting.

"Barnsley women are the best looking in the country."
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©