Newcastle United striker Salomon Rondon admits Venezuela's financial crisis has reached him.

Socialist Venezuela is experiencing the worst economic crisis in its history, leading to a large rise in the number of kidnappings in the country.

Rondon, who has joined Newcastle on loan from West Brom, said: “Everyone knows what the situation is in Venezuela. It is a difficult moment for Venezuelan people.

“The only way to make people happy or make the people forget their problems is football. Every weekend they try to watch the Premier League and La Liga.

“It is a distraction for the problems they have there. I try my best to make them proud.

“Of course it is a bad situation for the people there - and for me as well because I've got family there.

“But my responsibility as a Venezuelan person is to make Venezuelan people proud."