MESSI WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE SAME WITHOUT BARCELONA-CHARLY REXACH

Over years of winning trophies, titles and personnel accolades, Lionel Messi has undoubtedly taken a podium place in terms of being one of the greatest to have ever played the game of football but without the aid of his club, however, Charly Rexach believes that such achievements may not have been possible.

The former Barcelona chief was one of the men that was instrumental in bringing the Argentine star to Camp Nou many moons ago, and shared his opinions with a local radio station in Santa Fe about the whole process.

"I was not the man who discovered Messi," Rexach told SuperDeportivo. "Messi discovered himself, because he is a player that was doing abnormal things from a young age.

" Whether the Argentina international would have been as big of a success without the help of La Masia and his teammates over the years, however, is a different kettle of fish altogether.
 

"I believe that Messi, if he hadn't come to Barcelona, wouldn't have been Messi - be careful with what I say," Reach said.

"The big advantage is that a great player like him was put together with a great team like Barcelona and they formed a fearsome duo together, but if he had gone to another club he would have been a great player - but without his reputation resonating around the world as it has.

"If Messi would not have been at Barcelona, it would have cost him being the best in the world. "As an example, it occurs with Argentina, where the national team doesn't rotate around Messi. "Messi is Barcelona.

The two together have become greater every day. "The importance that Messi has at the club, and the importance that Barcelona have in world football is the link between them."