I Miss Ronaldo in Spain, Says Messi

By Daily Sports on March 30, 2019

Lionel Messi says he constantly replays Argentina’s 2014 World Cup final defeat in his head but has vowed that a recent international sabbatical was a one-off and he has no plans to retire in the near future.

The Barcelona striker, speaking on an Argentine radio station on Friday, also surprised listeners by saying he misses Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who left rivals Real Madrid for Juventus last year.

“I miss Cristiano in Spain,” Messi told Radio C5N. “It was lovely having him here, even though it annoyed me seeing him win so many titles. It would be great if he was still here.”

Messi, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has begun 2019 in fine form with his Barcelona side running away with La Liga and through to the Champions League quarterfinals.

He also returned to international action last week in a lacklustre 3-1 defeat by Venezuela, a game that was his first for the national side since he took a break following the 2018 World Cup.

Argentina were knocked out of the tournament in the second round and Messi, who has still not scored a goal in the knockout stages of any of the four World Cups in which he has featured, was criticised by some fans.

The 31-year-old said going from Barcelona to Argentina was difficult and blamed their poor performances in Russia on a swift transition from promoting younger players to take up senior positions in the team.

“I think the generational change was very brusque,” Messi said. “It should have been done slower. You need to give the kids time and confidence. The change was a really big one.”

Messi said he was still tortured by the loss of the 2014 World Cup final to Germany in extra time and warned fans not to expect too much from Argentina at this year’s Copa America in Brazil.

“Do you know the number of times I've replayed the final and the chances we had? It would have been so different if we’d scored one of them,” he explained.

“Being realistic, a lot of work is needed to be a powerhouse. These kids have played very few matches for the national team. We need to be patient and I have no doubt that we are going to be strong.”

“I am going to stretch out my retirement as long as I can,” Messi said, adding that if he did return to Argentina it would be to play for his hometown club Newell’s Old Boys.

“I would love to end my career at Newell’s but it’s not easy. Sincerely, I don’t know.” (SuperSport)

•Photo shows Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo 

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 30, 2019


 

You may also like...
Pogba, De Gea Ruled Out Of United Clash...

Bilic Named West Bromwich Albion Boss

Chukwu disappointed over Rangers’ failure to progress in...

Arsenal To Send Dani Ceballos Back To Real...

Beyond Football, Other Sports Can Bring Glory To...

Rio 2016: Russians ‘have cleanest team’ as 271...

 

Latest News WBC Hall of Fame induction thrills legend Nwokolo FA bans transgenders from women’s football Ofili battles Thomas, Neita in Florida today Nigeria defeat Tunisia in U-20 AFCON opener Can 2025 U-20 squad match the Golden Generation? Hall of Fame beckons for Nigerian great Nwokolo Fury comeback can only be for Joshua – Ex-champ Frampton Bayelsa wins mixed doubles at National Table Tennis Champs N200m-NPFL champions Remo to lift title May 11 NPFL will be best league in Africa – Elegbeleye We’re committed to youth development – Aiyedatiwa World stands still for NPFL champions Remo Stars

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,451 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,594 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,603 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,238 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,214 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,211 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,007 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,560 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,659 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,298 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,736 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,163 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media