“We’ll have to watch MLS, I don’t much like it”: Mourinho on Messi | OneFootball

José Mourinho, current Real Madrid manager, was full of praise for Lionel Messi during the press conference ahead of the match against Betis. When asked about the retirement of the Argentina national team star, the Portuguese coach was unequivocal: “Talking about Messi is complicated. There isn’t much more to say. There are no words that can describe his quality as a player.” True to his style, the manager added a touch of irony about the future of the “Number 10” in the United States: “We’ll have to watch some MLS matches, which is something I don’t really like, to make the most of these final years.”

The respect of a rival who suffered against him up close

Mourinho’s words carry special weight because he faced him during the most intense period of their careers. Messi left a deep mark on the Portuguese coach’s journey, as he endured Barcelona’s historic treble in 2010 and resounding defeats such as the 5-0 at Camp Nou. Thirteen years after their last direct clash on the sidelines, the coach bowed to his lasting brilliance: “He’s one of those players you always miss. And he is one of the greats of our generation.”

His view on Julián Álvarez’s current situation at Atlético Madrid

Elsewhere, Mourinho analyzed the situation of Julián Álvarez in Diego Simeone’s team, one of the main transfer sagas in Europe. The Portuguese manager was blunt about how the forward should approach this stage after the transfer window closed: “No one knows him better than Simeone. When a player is not satisfied, once September 1 arrives, you either are satisfied or you don’t play.” To conclude, he made his feeling about the “Spider’s” role clear: “My feeling is that from yesterday onward, and at least until the end of the season, he will be an important player for his club.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.