Lionel Messi And Diego Maradona Start Off Their National Team Relationship Amicably

With Diego Maradona becoming Argentina’s national coach last week, it didn’t take long for the tension between the new coach and his supposed successor–Leo Messi–to reach the sports pages from Buenos Aires to Barcelona, and everywhere in between. Stemming from comments made by Argentina’s former number 10 where a earlier this year when he questioned Messi’s maturity level and character, everyone is wondering whether or not the combination of Argentina’s two supposed soccer superstars would work out and bring them a Wold Cup title. Maradona has already openly tried to clear the air, but Messi hadn’t until now. Of course, it was all Diego’s fault.

“They were things that were said on the spur of the moment. I know that Diego appreciates me and I don’t hold a grudge,” Barcelona’s Messi told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Messi did speak about Maradona though and said that despite his reported antics off the field it is what he did on it that really counts.

“One must remember what he did and the fact that for us (Argentines) he is a massive person. What interests us now is to get a good group and to win games. There is no problem with me or with any of my team-mates,” he assured.

Yeah, until we found out that Diego doesn’t want to fight Barcelona for the rights to play Messi during the qualifiers. If you remember, Barca didn’t want him to play for the Argentines during the Olympics, but relented after FIFA stepped in. But now, they’re wanting to cockblock the AFA to prevent him from playing in a majority of the qualifiers. No offense to Maradona’s supposed coaching skills, but the last guy stepped down because they lost to Chile with the Messi-less team they had. Isn’t it about time you tried to make it his team before it’s too late?
Argentina’s Messi Plays Down Fears Over Maradona [Javno]
Messi More Concerned With Málaga Than Maradona [Goal]
Maradona Confirms Messi Omission [Goal]