Juventus forward Paulo Dybala insists he is not Lionel Messi’s ‘substitute’ and that he can play with the Barcelona superstar for Argentina.
Dybala was on record as claiming he was not unable to coexist with Messi due to their similar playing styles, but the former Palermo star challenged Argentina ‘to find a formation that makes us compatible together’.
Juventus forward Paulo Dybala insists he is not Lionel Messi’s ‘substitute’ and that he can play with the Barcelona superstar for Argentina.
Dybala was on record as claiming he was not unable to coexist with Messi due to their similar playing styles, but the former Palermo star challenged Argentina ‘to find a formation that makes us compatible together’.
“I’m not playing because of those statements? No, I don’t think it’s because of that,” he said at a Press conference ahead of his country’s World Cup clash with Croatia on Thursday.
“Both Sampaoli and Leo understood what I meant. That doesn’t make me Messi’s substitute either because no-one can replace Leo, nor here, nor even at Barcelona.
“It can’t be excluded that we’ll be able to play together and find a formation that makes us compatible together. Maybe by training and playing together, we’ll find it.
“I keep training as if I had to play from the first minute. If not, I won’t be ready for when my time arrives.
“Being here is a dream and I’m enjoying every moment of it. Only the Coach knows when I can be useful to the team. I dream of scoring my first goal at a World Cup.”