In a hand in hand with ESPN, Lionel Messi remembered the moment when Lionel Scalonithe coach of the Argentine National Team, He said he needed to think about his future. after the victory over Brazil at the Maracaná. A few days before the start of the Copa America 2024the captain also referred to their relationship with Diego Maradona. The interview can be relived on Star+
Martín Arévalo interviewed the Argentine captain exclusively in Miami, where the national team is preparing to defend the continental title. Was the first trophy that La Pulga obtained after more than 15 years in the national team (since 2005).
Last year, Scaloni surprised the world by putting his permanence in the National Team in doubt after the victory over Brazil in Rio de Janeiro in the Qualifiers. Even his own Messi received the message with surprise.
“The truth is that I was surprised. We talk a lot with Leo and we have a great relationship.n, as he has with everyone, because he is very close to the group, it is very natural. “We have a lot of trust between the coaching staff and the players.”said No. 10.
“But yes, it surprised me at the time. What’s more: I found out later because the game ended and I left quickly, I did not return with the entire National Team or those who were returning to Argentina. I left quickly, I found out later and I didn’t know anything“he explained.
Diego Maradona, always present for Messi
The journalist of ESPN He told him an anecdote. Before the match with Croatia, in Russia, I asked for one of your shirts to take to Diego (Maradona) in a box. When Diego sees the shirt, the first thing he does is he gives it a kiss where the number 10 and Messi were. And when the game got rough, we were 0-3, he started showing his shirt to the people. And he pointed to Messi as if to say ‘I belong to Messi’. I don’t know if you are clear that Diego loved you, but I want to ask you now what Diego gives you: if he makes you homesick, if he makes you sad, if you would like to tell him ‘Look, I won the cup that you won’…
“Obviously It made me very sad that he couldn’t live what we lived, because I know what he felt for the National Team, how he wanted Argentina to be world champions again, because we have lived a World Cup togetherwhich beyond the result was an impressive experience sharing with him day to day, how well he was doing and how much he enjoyed being the coach of the National Team,” Messi said.
“I try to keep all the good memories we had together. I know that he loved me very much and I loved him. Even though things have always been said in the middle, the reality is that we were very fond of each other and, since he met me, he always supported me and wanted the best for me.. It was a shame that I couldn’t experience it like the whole country did,” added number 10.
