Lionel Messi has granted a lengthy interview to Marca, and discussed multiple topics about his career.
There was little chance the Spanish newspaper would speak to Messi without dragging Cristiano Ronaldo into the picture. The two superstars shared a rivalry when at Barcelona and Real Madrid, which saw Marca siding with the latter more often than not.
Both have since moved on, with Messi going to PSG in the summer, and Ronaldo signing for Juventus before his return to Old Trafford and Manchester United.
Messi was asked what he thinks of Ronaldo’s performance since his return to English football, and the Argentina international gave a somewhat sympathetic appraisal of the struggles at the Red Devils.
Marca quote him as saying: “United is a very strong team with great players. Cristiano already knew the club, but that was in another stage and now he has adapted in an impressive way. From the beginning he has scored goals as always and had no problems adapting. In the Premier League things aren’t as we all thought, but it is a very difficult and even competition in which things take a lot of turns. After December it changes a lot and anything can happen.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was shown the door at Manchester United at the weekend, and the early frontrunner to take his job, at least in the long term, is Mauricio Pochettino, who currently manages Messi at PSG.
He wasn’t asked about the possibility of a managerial exit in Paris, with the actual Marca chat likely taking place before the developments of Sunday and Monday.
Asked if he misses his rivalry with Ronaldo, Messi said: “It’s been a long time since we stopped competing in the same league. We competed individually and as a team for the same goals. It was a very beautiful stage for us and also for the people because they enjoyed it very much. It is a beautiful memory that will remain in the history of football.”
