Fluminense's Felipe Melo doubles down on Jack Grealish claim after Man City Club World Cup final row

Fluminense's Felipe Melo criticised Manchester City forward Jack Grealish for being disrespectful during and after the Club World Cup final.

Despite Jack Grealish denying it, Fluminense's Felipe Melo has doubled down on claims he defended his team at the end of the Club World Cup final because the Manchester City man was disrespectful.

Players from both teams came together just after the final whistle, with City having beaten Fluminense 4-0 to become World Champions. Grealish and Kyle Walker were involved, with Melo leading the pushing from the Brazilian side. He later claimed that Grealish had been shouting 'ole' when City were keeping the ball at the end of the game, but Grealish took to social media to explicitly deny that claim.

Now Melo has responded to Grealish and insisted that the City man did not show his side respect, so he 'defended' his side and his younger teammates.

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He is quoted as saying: "I've already seen on social media idiots saying that I started a mess. I know how to lose. When you lose, it's time to keep quiet. I was very upset because I dreamed a lot about this competition, but I'm very proud.

"Fluminense is the second-biggest team in the world and first in South America. We lost, but we got here. We won the Libertadores. Until next season, we will continue to be the Libertadores champion.

"No one, even Manchester City players will not lack respect for us. I don't lack respect for anyone. So I expect to be respected. And he (Grealish) did not respect. He is someone who lost my respect."

As well as Melo, Fluminense captain Marcelo waded in on the row, reminding Grealish of his far superior trophy collection, including four Club World Cups.

"Everyone does what they want. I have my head, I'm not going to say if it's right or wrong," Marcelo said. "In this competition, he has one and I have four cups. I know how difficult it is to win four titles like that. Everyone does what they want.

"The game is played on the field. I don't speak bad or good about those who do this. That's football. You won, you really have to make fun."

Explaining what happened from his perspective, Melo had said: "When the game ended, Grealish went after Martinelli. He chose a little guy. He has no balls to face a big one. Grealish was passing close to Martinelli and I saw them talking, forehead to forehead, so I went after him. I pushed him. Walker pushed me, too. I went to defend a teammate.

"I defended my institution. I will do this forever. No one will disrespect my institution or its athletes. No one will come and humiliate my friends or my club. I didn't want a mess. Grealish was disrespectful towards the Fluminense institution and I will never let that happen.

"He was shouting 'Ole' at the end of the game. This is something that the fans can do, not a player - an athlete on the field cannot be disrespectful. I went to defend Martinelli, who was being cornered by this athlete. And I would do it again. I am a warrior. Nobody can ever crow with a rooster."

Grealish posted on X, formerly Twitter, to say: "Not once did I say 'Ole'".