“Messi’s current version is more integrated”- Argentina U17 coach praises his compatriot

Pablo Aimar, coach of the Argentina under-17 side spoke to The Coaches’ Voice in an interview, where he discussed his time as a player, his current stint as a coach, his time at Valencia, his heroes, his coaches and of course, his compatriot Lionel Messi.

The two-time La Liga winner, who also used to be a major role model for Lionel Messi when he was young, spoke about Messi’s development as a player throughout the years. After wanting to swap shirts with Aimar in his early career, Messi has come a long way in his journey, rising to the top as one of the greatest footballers of his generation.

Naturally for Pablo Aimar, having been an inspiration for a player who became so great must be a source of great pride and honour. The former Argentina international spoke about Messi very fondly, believing that he has become a phenomenon but has also matured a lot.

“Football is accepting of all sorts of different opinions, that’s what makes it so popular. It also has a lot to do with chance, but then a player comes along who nullifies uncertainty, like Lionel Messi,” Aimar said about how Messi’s greatness cannot be ignored.

Speaking about his influence, the 41-year old said: “We all believe that, when he [Messi] plays, Barcelona are going to win. In the past 15 years, he has managed to exhaust all praise.”

“Maybe Messi’s version when he was 22 years old was more attractive, when he could dribble past everyone, even his shadow. But his current version is more integrated. He does the right thing at the right time,” added Aimar about the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.