Fabio Capello has said that Cristiano Ronaldo “does not possess the pure technical skill” that Lionel Messi does.
Ronaldo is widely expected to take home this year’s World Player of the Year, for a second consecutive year. Although Capello insists he respects the player, the Russia boss thinks Messi is better.
“Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are two extraordinary players but they are different,” the former Madrid boss is quoted as saying by AS.
“Cristiano is a powerful player, with very good technique, but he does not possess the pure technical skill of Messi.
“Leo Messi is a very difficult player to play against.”
The Italian also revealed how he desperately came close to signing Messi in 2005, during his former club Juventus’ Gamper Trophy clash with Barcelona.
“It’s completely true that I asked [then Blaugrana boss Frank] Rijkaard if he would loan me Messi,” the 68-year-old confirmed.
“When the play had stopped for a minute I went over to Rijkaard and said: ‘You can’t play him because you’ve got three foreigners already. Why don’t you let me have him for a year?’
“Rijkaard replied: ‘We’re going to clear up the situation in three or four months and for that reason I can’t do it.’
“That’s why Messi’s [Barca] debut was last in coming. I knew the value of my defender and when I saw Messi play I knew he was special.
“I could see that he could do things that didn’t occur to other players.”
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