Cruyff: Barcelona should sell Messi
Former Barcelona coach Johan Cruyff has said that the club should consider selling Lionel Messi, now that they have signed Brazilian star Neymar.
In an interview with Marca, Cruyff said: “Now that Barca has signed Neymar, they should really consider selling Messi,” in order to “avoid a conflict of egos” between the two.
“I am all in favour of avoiding conflicts,” said Cruyff. “That's why I wouldn't have signed Neymar in the first place. But now that has been signed, the club should consider selling Messi.”
Cruyff justified his statement by adding: “Neymar and Messi are both free-kick specialists. Who is going to take them from now on?
“I would not have taken the risk of bringing in Neymar.” Was Cruyff's response to questions over Messi's problems playing alongside Samuel Eto'o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“It seems that Messi is a bit of a dictator. When you have the possibility of being the best player in every game, you have to be a bit of a dictator because your prestige is on the line.
“The pressure on Messi is enormous because the fans want to see him doing marvellous things, and in order for this to happen things have to function perfectly,” he added.