Javier Mascherano, the incoming brag astatine Inter Miami, erstwhile boldly claimed that Lionel Messi could person been 1 of the "best defenders successful the world" based connected his grooming displays with Barcelona.
The pair, who were teammates astatine Camp Nou, are poised for a reunion successful Florida arsenic Mascherano is acceptable to instrumentality implicit from Tata Martino astatine Chase Stadium. Martino near the Herons pursuing a astonishment first-round MLS Cup playoff exit astatine the hands of Atlanta United, citing "personal reasons" for his departure.
Mascherano, the ex-Liverpool ace, is gearing up to articulation forces again with erstwhile Barcelona stars Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, and Jordi Alba. The 40 twelvemonth old's tenure astatine Barcelona from 2010 to 2018 saw him beryllium portion of what galore see 1 of the top nine teams ever, securing 2 Champions League titles and 5 La Liga crowns.
As helium gets acceptable to collaborate with Messi erstwhile much successful Miami, Mascherano's respect for the Argentine wizard is evident, having often praised the forward's skills. Remarkably, the soon-to-be Vice City manager adjacent suggested that Messi's prowess successful grooming could person seen him excel arsenic a top-notch defender.
Former Barcelona stalwart Javier Mascherano has lavished praise connected the incomparable Lionel Messi during a nostalgic interrogation with Shoot for Love, recalling their clip arsenic teammates. Emphasizing his versatility, Mascherano said: "If Messi were a defender, helium would possibly beryllium 1 of the champion defenders successful the world.", reports the Mirror US.
He besides described the futility of trying to outplay Messi connected the pitch, stating: "It is intolerable to get past him. Sometimes, astatine Barcelona we played 1 connected 1 and it was intolerable to get past him. We had nary accidental against him. Sometimes, attackers cognize however to defend. Leo defended precise well. He was precise accelerated and erstwhile you tried to dribble past him it was impossible."
In different fond reminiscence, helium shared an anecdote astir the competitory tone of Messi, saying: "In Barcelona we did a abbreviated tourney successful a grooming league with 3 teams: 5 victories and you were the champion. He decided to extremity the grooming league early, truthful helium scored 5 goals for the squad to triumph and the grooming league ended."
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Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)On the managerial front, outgoing Miami caput honcho Martino reflected connected his ain transportation with Messi portion successful Florida, earlier declaring his exit arsenic manager. Martino stated: "We recovered ourselves astatine a bully infinitesimal for some of america and maintained precise adjacent interaction passim this twelvemonth and a half."
Remembering their interactions crossed 3 antithetic teams – Barcelona, the Argentina nationalist team, and Inter Miami – helium admitted: "In this sense, I consciousness it was the champion play of the 3 stages we've shared: Barcelona, the Argentina nationalist team, and present Inter Miami."
The Argentine revealed: "I decidedly made the determination earlier the archetypal playoff game. Of course, nary one, not adjacent my coaching staff, knew astir this last decision. We had 3 games to play-although we aimed for less with Atlanta-and I didn't privation determination to beryllium immoderate distractions."