Barcelona manager, Luis Enrique, has said that Lionel Messi has evolved into the “total footballer”.
He was speaking to the press, ahead of their Copa del Rey quarter-final against Real Madrid on Thursday. Barca won the first leg 1-0 at the Anoeta, but will be without the injured Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta for the return leg.
Iniesta was absent for last weekend’s victory at Eibar, where Messi dropped deeper and took on a more creative role.
“Messi’s evolution is there for everyone to see,” Luis Enrique said.
“It’s a process to do with maturing as a person. There have been years when he was the only goalscorer and now he’s evolved into the total footballer, capable of everything in attack and defence.”
Messi turns 30 later this year, but Enrique insists age will not take its toll on the Argentina captain.
“As he’s so intelligent, he will be able to cover any potential physical weaknesses in the long-term,” he said.
“He’s the prototype of a strong player physically, but he doesn’t rely on that because he knows where the space is, how to play without the ball … and if you add his technical and physical quality to that, you have what we see every day: a unique player.”
Barca are expected to offer Messi a new deal in the coming days to extend his stay at the club until 2022.
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