Sport
Hansi Flick Praises Messi as the Greatest After His Positive Comments on Barcelona’s Team
Barcelona manager, Hansi Flick, has praised Lionel Messi as the greatest footballer of all time, responding to the Inter Miami forward’s recent positive comments about his former club.
Messi, who left Barcelona in 2021 for Paris Saint-Germain before making the move to Inter Miami, recently spoke highly of Barcelona’s current squad under Flick’s leadership.
The 36-year-old Argentine legend referred to the team as “spectacular” and expressed his pride in how they have been representing the club in recent months.
In a pre-match interview ahead of Barcelona’s LaLiga clash with Celta Vigo, Flick reflected on Messi’s words with gratitude and admiration.
He said, “It’s an honor that Leo Messi, the greatest player of all time, says good things about Barça.” Flick went on to highlight how much it means to the club that Messi continues to follow Barcelona closely, despite his departure years ago.
Messi’s comments on the team have been well received by both players and staff, with the Argentine showing great respect for the younger talents now making their mark at the Catalan club.
Flick acknowledged how significant it is that Messi holds the current squad, many of whom are in their early 20s, in such high regard.
For Barcelona, Messi’s endorsement serves as a morale booster, especially as the club works to rebuild and restore its dominance in both La Liga and European football.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has addressed the ongoing rumors surrounding Martin Ødegaard’s captaincy, making it clear that the Norwegian midfielder will not be stripped of the armband. Speculation had surfaced following a string of disappointing performances from the team, including their Champions League exit. Despite this, The Athletic reports that these rumors are unfounded, and Ødegaard is set to retain the captain’s role for next season.
After a knee injury sidelined him for almost three months, Ødegaard’s form has dipped, with only one Premier League goal since the start of the year. His impact was also lacking during Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain, where the Gunners lost 1-0 in both legs.
Despite calls from pundit Mark Lawrenson for Arteta to consider handing the captaincy to Declan Rice, Arsenal is reportedly confident that Ødegaard will remain as captain when the new season begins. The 24-year-old was appointed captain in 2022 after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette’s departures.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has acknowledged that Bruno Fernandes is drawing interest from multiple clubs across Europe and Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese midfielder has been in outstanding form this season, with 19 goals and 18 assists in all competitions, leading to growing speculation about his future.
However, Amorim has made it clear that Fernandes is not for sale. Speaking to reporters on Friday, he said, “Many clubs, including those from Saudi Arabia, are keen on Bruno and would do whatever it takes to sign him, but he is not going anywhere. He will be with us for many years to come.”
Former Borussia Dortmund shot-stopper Roman Weidenfeller has revealed his preference for Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi, praising the Portuguese star’s unmatched dedication and work ethic.
Weidenfeller, who faced both legends during his playing days, described Ronaldo as a standout among top forwards like Messi and Higuain. According to him, Ronaldo’s discipline sets him apart. “He’s always the first to arrive in the dressing room, hitting the gym and training hard, and the last to leave,” he said in an interview with The Hindu.
He credited Ronaldo’s commitment as the key to his long-lasting success, noting that even now, the Al-Nassr forward remains driven as ever in Saudi Arabia. With five Ballon d’Ors and major titles across the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Champions League, and Euro 2016, Ronaldo’s legendary status continues to grow at 40, following iconic spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
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