Txiki (1): "Messi is the best player of the planet"

In his first interview to a paper in two years, Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain talked to Catalan sports paper Sport about the past months and the current situation of the club.





Let's start by talking about Messi. How much would he cost these days? Would it be possible to sign him?
It would be impossible because he wouldn't have a price tag. You have a series of players who are untouchable. Madrid couldn't sign Cristiano Ronaldo, Chelsea couldn't get Kaká and when Milan wanted Ronaldinho two years ago, that wasn't possible either. We're talking about players who are not for sale. They're not on the market.

Barcelona has at this moment the best player of the planet in the squad?
Yes, without any doubt. I wouldn't swap him with anyone and it seems a lot of clubs would like to exchange their players for Messi.

You think he will win the Golden Ball in December?
First I would like him to play very well with Barcelona and to help the team winning a lot of trophies and after that I'll think he'll win not one but several Golden Balls. There's no one like him in the world, not even Cristiano Ronaldo.

What makes him so special and unique?
Above all, his qualities in one on one situations. If you are so good in one on one...

Better than Maradona?
We all know Maradona's career because he already retired. We've only seen three years of Leo so far. You still have to wait and see how his career will develop. The good thing for Messi is that, even being that good, there's still a lot left for him to win: leagues, the Champions League, the World cup...

We know that Barcelona has made a big financial effort to secure him and to make him feel comfortable. And also to physically protect him...
We give Leo the same attention as we give to all the others. But it's true that both Barcelona and he and his family wanted to reach an agreement that is satifying for all of us and that assures he shouldn't worry about the financial side of his contract. And we're both happy about the outcome.

I also referred to the fact that Leo has a history of injuries that force you to be careful with him...
He knows that and we know that. We take care of the slightest detail: training, nutrition, recovery, rest. Messi is aware that he has to live for his job. That's the best way to eliminate injury risks. It's an intelligent boy and he knows he has a special responsibility towards and within the team.

He takes his responsibility?
And how! Totally. His attitude is the proof of that. You could see it very well against Atlético Madrid. He ran, he put pressure, he fought...


This is the first part of this interview. The other parts will follow in the coming days with Txiki talking - amongst other things - about his talks with Mourinho and the summer events surrounding Eto'o.