Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Lionel Messi has made Barcelona "even greater" this season, according to former teammate Cesc Fabregas.
Messi had, by his standards, a difficult time of it during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, with injury issues apparent as he struggled to find the form which had previously won him four consecutive Ballon d'Or trophies.
But the Argentina international has returned to his very best during the current campaign, with 53 goals and 27 assists as Barca home in on a treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey trophies.
Fabregas, Messi's former teammate in both the Blaugrana youth and senior teams, told radio show El Partido de las 12 that everyone is currently watching the 27-year-old to see what piece of magic he would produce next.
"When people think he is not there, he invents something," Fabregas said. "That is why I always watch Barca games, that is why the world's media follows Barca every day, above all for how great Leo has made this team, even greater than it was before. I hope he keeps playing so well until the end of the season."
Messi's future has been the subject of much speculation this summer, especially after a mid-season row with Barca coach Luis Enrique, although the pair now appear to have settled their differences.
Chelsea were among the clubs linked with a €200 million move in the summer, however Fabregas said it was very unlikely that he would be teaming up with Messi at Stamford Bridge in the foreseeable future.
"Leo is very much from Barca, he loves Barca a lot, he belongs to Barca," he said. "When the people talk about Barcelona they see the face of Leo Messi.
"For me he is a living legend of Barcelona. In the future he will decide what he wants to do with his life, and his career, but Barca is Leo, Leo is Barca, and today there is nobody who doubts any of that."
Fabregas also hailed the contribution of another ex-teammate, saying that Gerard Pique's displays in defence were equally as important as those of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar up front.
"Barcelona have been at a brutal level for four or five months," he said. "The three up front and Pique are playing at a very high level, players up front who can decide games and a defender like Gerard, who is a wall. I believe they will win everything this year."
Fabregas believes the more direct style of play favoured by current coach Luis Enrique has made Barca even more dangerous.
"They do not have as much control as during [Pep] Guardiola's time, but now they are more lethal," he said "They do not need to have the ball to score goals, and that makes the team more dangerous. They have three exciting weeks coming to win trophies."
Meanwhile, Argentina coach Tata Martino, speaking while announcing his provisional squad for the upcoming Copa America, said that Messi is at the top of his game, and keeps adding new facets.
"Messi is in his best form ever, and that is good for everyone, it will be good for us," Martino, who coached Barcelona last season, said. "He keeps showing and confirming other parts of his game -- as well as being a goal-scorer he is a dribbler, facilitator, a team player, he has been playing again on the right wing."
