Find out how the brilliant playmaker’s legacy lives on in the form of the world’s best player…
In an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, Ronaldinho has revealed that his influence at Barcelona extended beyond the two league titles and the Champions League trophy the club won thanks to the stunning midfield play of the superstar:
“It was the players [including Ronaldinho] who asked Rijkaard to promote to Messi to first-team training,” the 34-year-old revealed.
The former PSG star also took the opportunity in the same interview to weigh in on the Ronaldo v Messi debate:
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“Cristiano Ronaldo is a very complete player, but Messi is better because he has magic”, explained the 34-year-old.
It’s no surprise that Ronaldinho knew magic when he saw it, but the idea that the players were the ones who encouraged Rijkaard to give the young Argentine his debut almost ten years ago is an interesting revelations. Unfortunately for former PSG star Ronaldinho, he would eventually become surplus to requirements thanks to the astonishing rise of Messi.
The Argentine genius truly flourished when Ronaldinho was moved on to AC Milan, but he might have have made the step up if it wasn’t for El Gaucho’s word in Rijkaard’s ear.
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