Former Napoli midfielder Alemao insists Lionel Messi cannot be compared with Diego Maradona, because at Barcelona “he has a whole team playing for him."
The two clubs meet in the Champions League Round of 16 this evening at 20.00 GMT.
You can follow the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
Former Napoli midfielder Alemao insists Lionel Messi cannot be compared with Diego Maradona, because at Barcelona “he has a whole team playing for him."
The two clubs meet in the Champions League Round of 16 this evening at 20.00 GMT.
You can follow the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
“It’s impossible to describe what it was like playing alongside Maradona, you simply had to be there,” Scudetto winner Alemao told Radio Marca.
“He was a genius. His mere presence could resolve problems.”
This is the first time Messi has stepped into the Stadio San Paolo, following in the footsteps of his Argentina hero.
“Messi is phenomenal, don’t get me wrong, he’s a very difficult player to be up again. But Maradona really was a genius, he did far more than Messi at international level too and that is something to be considered when making comparisons.
“Messi has a whole team playing for him and that becomes more obvious than ever when he goes to play for Argentina without that support network.”