Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has denied rumors that Rojiblancos were trying to sign Lionel Messi.
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“The situation in Barcelona caused the exit. It was difficult for our league because Messi has a huge prestige in La Liga and Barcelona,” Simeone said at the press conference before the opening of the league in Celta Vigo on Sunday (5:30 pm). We obviously never talked to him and had no chance of arresting him.”
The Argentine believes that La Liga can be attractive even without Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Real Madrid in 2018, and is referring to the Premier League. “The Premier League is neither Messi nor Ronaldo and it is still one of the biggest leagues in the world,” he said.
Simeone: Clubs can grow without Messi and Ronaldo
Even the clubs have a chance to take advantage of it. The 51-year-old said: “The competitiveness and growth of clubs without Messi and Ronaldo would make this league competitive. Just like in England which has neither.”
Messi was forced to leave Barcelona after 21 years after the league’s financial regulations did not allow the Catalans to renew the contract with the world footballer six times. Then Messi signed with Paris Saint-Germain.
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