Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has advised Lionel Messi to quit the national team, even as uncertainty looms over the star footballer’s future with the Albiceleste.
Captained by Messi, Argentina suffered a horrendous 2018 World Cup exit, crushing out of the round-of-16 with a 3-4 defeat to France following a mediocre performance with just one win, one defeat, and a draw.
Plagued by inner conflicts and a federation drowned in corruption, the Argentina FA sacked coach Jorge Sampaoli after the disastrous campaign and appointed Lionel Scaloni as the interim boss, who has so far left-out their nation’s top goal-scorer in the two friendly matches.
But while the five-time Ballon d’Or has refused to comment on his international future, his predecessor believes the 31-year-old should not return.
“What would I tell Messi? To not come back anymore. To retire,” former Argentina coach Maradona told Clarin on Sunday.
“I would tell him: ‘don’t go anymore, man’. Let’s see if they can handle that. Let’s see if they’re really big men.”
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The current Dorados coach further added that Messi is blamed for everything that happens in the country and accused the Argentina people of pressurizing the forward.
“The Under-15s lose and it is Messi’s fault, the fixture list in Argentina puts Racing against Boca and Messi is to blame. He is always to blame. Stop breaking my b***s.
“I would have liked to see him tell us all to f**k off. Because he is not to blame for us not being world champions. Fine, we all placed our hopes in him, but when you go to the racetrack you hope your horse wins and he comes in eighth.”
He also said that the Albiceleste has long lost the trust of the people and don’t play time champions anymore.
“In Formula One Vettel has a great engine and Hamilton beats him. Right now the national team doesn’t do anything for me or for the people. We have lost that. The passion. It cannot play against Nicaragua or Malta, no, brother. We are throwing all the prestige we earned down the toilet,” said the 57-year-old.
Maradona also called interim boss Scaloni “an idiot” for leaving out Messi of the national team. The former Argentina assistant coach has decided to keep the No.10 jersey vacant as the Barcelona forward contemplates his future.
But according to Maradona, “[Scaloni] is an idiot. He seems like an idiot. Because if I went and gave the 10 to Messi, Messi should give it to the next 10. It’s ridiculous, it gets me angry,” he said.
“Scaloni is a great kid but he can’t even manage traffic. How can we give the national team to Scaloni?! With everyone who has passed through that team, who got their teeth and heads broken, you’re going to put Scaloni in? Questioned the World Cup-winning star.
“Now Scaloni says ‘I am prepared’. I’ve never even seen you score for Argentina. No offence. As a person, let’s go and share a barbecue. But as a coach and in the national team, no.”
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