Messi must swap Barcelona for Real Madrid if he wants to prove he’s better than Cristiano Ronaldo, says Argentine legend
LIONEL MESSI must quit Barcelona and join Real Madrid if he wants to prove he's better than Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Argentine legend Hugo Gatti.
Gatti, 75, has bizarrely claimed the one-club man must join Los Blancos to prove he is truly the greatest of all-time.
The Messi-Ronaldo argument has been raging on for years - with many now starting to believe the Barcelona star is edging it as he continues to put in sublime performance after sublime performance.
He scored twice and added two assists in Barcelona's 5-1 win against Real Valladolid on Tuesday, while Ronaldo won and scored a controversial penalty for Juve to beat Genoa 2-1 last night.
But that still may not be enough for Messi, 32, to be crowned the "GOAT", according to 18-cap former Argentina star Gatti.
Gatti told El Chiringuito TV: "It seems as if I am anti-Argentine, but until Messi plays in the big games, he will continue to be a player of home games.
"He has to have balls to go to Real Madrid and prove everything there like Cristiano. Otherwise he will be just one more [player].
"Cristiano went to the best club in the world. Messi plays at home, on his pitch with everything [that comes with that].
"Let him play in the Champions League and the World Cup, otherwise he will always be one more.
"When he plays there, he will fight with [Johan] Cruyff, [Diego] Maradona and Pele.
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"Messi plays when they let him play. It's very easy to play with everything in your favour at home."
Messi has missed portions of the 2019-20 season through injury, but has now scored five goals in his last four matches - all won by Barcelona.
Since coming back to the first-team, Messi has propelled his side to the top of the La Liga table, having been languishing out of the Champions League places at one stage.