Lionel Messi Wouldn't Have Been the Same at Real Madrid, Says Cesar Luis Menotti

Lionel Messi is a more rounded player at Barcelona than he would have been had he played for Real Madrid, according to Argentina's 1978 FIFA World Cup-winning manager, Cesar Luis Menotti. 

Per FOX Sports (via Marca), Menotti believes that the Argentina international benefited in ways that his Real Madrid counterpart, Cristiano Ronaldo, did not because he started his senior career playing alongside Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Ronaldinho:

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Messi wouldn't have been the same player at Real Madrid, he debuted with Iniesta, Xavi and Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo never had that type of training, Messi's evolution has been enormous from being a goalscoring forward to someone who directs play.

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Messi, now 29, made his competitive debut for the Barcelona first team in 2004 after a number of senior players—including Ronaldinho—asked then-manager Frank Rijkaard to promote him, per Marca.

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The diminutive playmaker has since won eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and a quintet of Ballon d'Or awards.

Clearly Menotti believes he could not have had such great success were it not for his early experiences at the Camp Nou.

Messi has been less successful on the international stage with Argentina and has lost in three major tournament finals in the last three summers—to Germany at the 2014 World Cup and Chile at 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas.

As a result, the Barca superstar briefly called time on his international career before going back on his decision and coming out of international retirement, per Gerard Brand of Sky Sports.

New Albiceleste coach Edgardo Bauza recently said Messi needed protecting, but Menotti rubbished the suggestion, per FOX Sports (via Marca): "Messi is [almost] 30 years old, he is capable of taking care of himself, these comments from Bauza about taking care of Messi are nothing but blowing smoke."

Despite Argentina regularly going deep at major tournaments, failure to actually win any significant silverware has seen coaches leaving regularly, and Bauza is the national side's sixth different boss since Jose Pekerman resigned after the 2006 World Cup. 

Atletico Madrid's Argentinian coach Diego Simeone is a potential future national team manager, and Menotti has been impressed by what he has done in La Liga: "I really like Simeone, he has done a very good job."

If he is ever appointed, the combination of Simeone and Messi could finally be the key to Argentina claiming their first major trophy since 1993's Copa America title.