Former Barcelona star admits Lionel Messi ‘asked me to stay’
Despite arriving amid high expectations, the Brazilian international ultimately struggled for game time amongst the star-studded options in Barcelona’s frontline.
Key points
- Speaking during an interview with Abu Dhabi Sports TV program 90 Minutes, as cited by Cadena SER, on Friday, Malcom admitted: “When I was about to leave for Russia, Messi came to talk to me and said: ‘You’re a player with a very bright future, and you’ll become a great footballer.’ He asked me to stay.
- Attacker Malcom for his part spent a solitary year plying his trade at the Camp Nou, after joining from French outfit Bordeaux back in 2018.
- Malcom, as a result, made the call to move on in the summer of 2019, taking his talents to Russia with Zenit St.
One individual who had remained hopeful of the 29-year-old staying put at the time, though, was none other than Lionel Messi.
He said: ‘Stay here, you’re one of Barça’s future players.'” The talented winger continued: “I was young and wanted to play matches, gain experience and demonstrate my potential.
Additional details
- I wanted to show what I was capable of doing on the pitch.” Conor Laird – GSFN.
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