Lionel Messi Interview on Cristiano Ronaldo and Others Is Fake, Say Barcelona
Barcelona have said an interview with Lionel Messi, in which he described Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo as a "great player" and insisted Pep Guardiola will be a success in the Premier League, is fake.
The Argentina captain also reportedly hailed the achievements of Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and further committed his future to Barcelona, saying he will stay at the Camp Nou "as long as they want me" in an interview with Coach magazine's Diego Jokas.
However, Barcelona and Messi's representatives have now both insisted the interview never took place and is false, per The Independent's Ed Malyon and ESPN FC's Sam Marsden:
It was removed from the Coach magazine site on Wednesday, and the apparent writer has denied carrying out the interview, per Spanish football writer Sid Lowe:
Jokas' interview with Ronaldo appeared in October 2016.
The contents of the interview with Messi, 29, reportedly included him rejecting the idea that sparring with Portuguese Ronaldo has motivated him to be a better player, per Jokas: "There is a mutual respect. I view him as a great player who has achieved great things because that is exactly what he is. My motivation, though, has always come from wanting to do well for Barcelona and Argentina and the fans."
Recently, Messi lost out to Ronaldo for the 2016 individual awards—he came second to the former United man for both the Ballon d'Or and the Best FIFA Men's Player award.
However, they remain arguably unmatched at the top of the game, and while Ronaldo won the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Euro 2016 last year, Messi could well eclipse his longtime rival again in the coming 12 months.
One of the most fruitful periods of Messi's sparkling career—and the time when he established himself as arguably the best player in the game—came between 2008 and 2012, when Guardiola was in charge of Barca, and they won three La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns.
The Spanish manager is now managing Manchester City and struggling somewhat, with the Sky Blues fifth in the Premier League following a 4-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday.
According to Jokas, Messi said it is simply taking Guardiola time to adapt to the English game, and when asked whether he could ever see himself playing in the the Premier League, the Argentinian reportedly stressed his loyalty to Barca:
"I have always said that Barcelona has given me everything and I am here for as long as they want me to be.
It is a very competitive league [in England], last season showed that, so it makes it very difficult to predict. Of course Pep is a very successful coach, he will be adjusting to the league, but I am sure that he will be successful.
"
Messi has come up against numerous sides from the UK during his career in the Champions League, most recently facing Guardiola's City and Scottish champions Celtic in the group stage of the 2016-17 tournament.
When reportedly asked to name the best British player he has ever faced, he apparently picked out Rooney, 31, for particular praise, per Jokas: "Over the years we have faced many British teams in Europe and come up against many good players, but I have always had a big respect for Wayne Rooney. He has played at the highest level for many years and is one of the special players of the generation."
Messi will not be coming up against Rooney again this season, as United are in the UEFA Europa League, not the Champions League.
But another clash against City or Arsenal could be on the cards or even a first clash with Leicester City.
Regaining the Champions League off Real is surely a key target for Messi and Barca this season, and their campaign will continue in February when they take on Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16.
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