Lionel Messi‘s former La Masia colleague Alberto Botia has revealed that it comes as no surprise to him that he would “become the best of the world”.
Botia, who now plays for Olympiacos, is prepared to face up against his former teammate when the two sides meet in the Champions League on Tuesday. Botia came through Barcelona’s youth academy two years after Messi did,s tating that the Argentine was showing signs of his limitless potential from a young age.
The centre-back left Barcelona in 2010,
however, after finding difficulties breaking through to the XI. The
28-year-old is currently at Olympiacos after spells at Sporting Gijno,
Sevilla and Elche.
Botia is now tasked with the monumental of duty of keeping Messi at bay when the two sides meet on Tuesday. Messi has been in routine, prolific form for Barcelona this season as they top La Liga with four points clear of second-placed Valencia and eight points clear of title defenders Real Madrid.
Despite many years away from Barcelona, the defender has never lost an ounce of his admiration and respect for the Argentine over the years.
“I grew up watching Messi every week, when he was playing with the U19 and U16 teams, I was younger and I attended almost all his games,” the 28-year-old said to Goal.
“I never had a doubt he was about to become the best of the world.”
“How to stop Messi is the question all defenders who face him ask themselves each week, he is a top one but I think it would be a mistake focusing only on him, we are worried about all Barcelona players.”
Botia is now tasked with the monumental of duty of keeping Messi at bay when the two sides meet on Tuesday. Messi has been in routine, prolific form for Barcelona this season as they top La Liga with four points clear of second-placed Valencia and eight points clear of title defenders Real Madrid.
Despite many years away from Barcelona, the defender has never lost an ounce of his admiration and respect for the Argentine over the years.
“I grew up watching Messi every week, when he was playing with the U19 and U16 teams, I was younger and I attended almost all his games,” the 28-year-old said to Goal.
“I never had a doubt he was about to become the best of the world.”
“How to stop Messi is the question all defenders who face him ask themselves each week, he is a top one but I think it would be a mistake focusing only on him, we are worried about all Barcelona players.”
Having
scored 12 La Liga goals this season, Messi is currently the league’s
leading goalscorer creating 23 chances and registering three assists –
and has so far netted one goal in Europe.
Barcelona head into the fixture in Greece top of their Champions League group, while Olympiacos are bottom-placed. The Catalan side won the home fixture 3-1, Messi marking the occasion by scoring his 100th European goal, though Gerard Pique was sent off for a second yellow.
“The game in Greece could be so different than the Camp Nou one. We are in front of our supporters and we must be very intense, we know that.”
Lionel Messi has a pass accuracy of 83% in La Liga.
Barcelona head into the fixture in Greece top of their Champions League group, while Olympiacos are bottom-placed. The Catalan side won the home fixture 3-1, Messi marking the occasion by scoring his 100th European goal, though Gerard Pique was sent off for a second yellow.
“The game in Greece could be so different than the Camp Nou one. We are in front of our supporters and we must be very intense, we know that.”
Lionel Messi has a pass accuracy of 83% in La Liga.
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