CaaC (John) 2,679 Posted December 10, 2018 Banter, must be 32 minutes ago | European Football Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have both won the Ballon d'Or award five times Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo has challenged Lionel Messi to leave Barcelona and sign for a club in Italy. Portugal international Ronaldo joined Serie A champions Juventus from Real Madrid in a £99.2m deal in the summer. Ronaldo and Argentina forward Messi, 31, have long been regarded as the world's best players, each winning five Ballon d'Or awards before Real Madrid's Luka Modric claimed this year's prize. "I'd like him to come to Italy one day," said Ronaldo, 33. "I hope he accepts the challenge like me, but if he's happy there then I respect that." Ronaldo spent nine seasons at Real Madrid after arriving from Manchester United in 2009, with Messi having spent his whole career at La Liga rivals Barcelona. Asked if he missed Messi during an interview with Italian press, Ronaldo added: "No, maybe it's him who misses me. "I've played in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal and for my national team, while he's still in Spain. "Maybe he needs me more. For me, life is a challenge, I like it and I like to make people happy. "He's a fantastic player and a good guy, but I don't miss anything here. This is my new life and I'm happy. "I left my comfort zone and took on this challenge here in Turin. Everything has gone well, I've proven I'm still an incredible player." https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46508289 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 10,776 Posted December 10, 2018 22 minutes ago, CaaC - John said: No, maybe it's him who misses me. "Maybe he needs me more Based on what, exactly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cicero 3,837 Posted December 10, 2018 Arrogance holds no bounds Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mel81x 2,247 Posted December 10, 2018 Lets have them both at Juventus. That would be quite the sight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carnivore Chris 1,999 Posted December 10, 2018 Going to Juventus is an easy choice though. They win their league every year whatever happens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScoRoss 499 Posted December 10, 2018 Some shots taken at his former teammates by saying his teammates at Juventus are humble. He really is completely self aware now... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danny 1,233 Posted December 10, 2018 Why would he want to leave the best league in the world? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Berserker 1,313 Posted December 11, 2018 4 minutes ago, José said: the system-dependent midget won't leave Barcelona Don't you find it ironic to keep calling him a midget when you're probably shorter than him? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 2,607 Posted December 11, 2018 Maybe Messi could go to Napoli and make a proper statement of intent to win things with a club that isn't predestined to dominate it all in their own championship. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 2,607 Posted December 11, 2018 2 minutes ago, José said: what's next, a proper Peruvian space agency? Messi won't leave his comfort zone and you know it Messi will do what he wants to do because he's earned the right to decide. He's already cemented his legacy and that's evident for everyone to see. The only reason he has never left Barcelona is because he wants to be there, he feels he belongs there for obvious reasons and is satisfied with what he's offered to the football world by being there. In other words, he has had the luxury of feeling like he belongs to a place where he's been able to compete and enjoy playing against all comers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Berserker 1,313 Posted December 11, 2018 (edited) 11 minutes ago, José said: hijito mío no seas wey, no me arruinés el día con esas pendejadas. But it's the truth hijito mio, and you also were spouting a lot of shit on the Libertadores thread so for that and the victory you deserve some stick. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Artful Dodger 1,732 Posted December 11, 2018 Ronaldo needs the Messi comparisons to stay as it promotes him to a level he just isn't capable of reaching, no matter how fantastic he is in his own right. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cicero 3,837 Posted December 11, 2018 (edited) Imagine being criticised because you are staying loyal to a club, that in no exaggeration, saved your life. Especially when clubs in your "home" country refused to pay treatment. Yeah. Messi is a fraud. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoshBRFC 744 Posted December 11, 2018 (edited) Serie A has been shite in recent years and so predictable. It's about as competitive as the German and French League. Long way off what it once was and quite far behind the 2 best and most competitive league's. (Premier League and La Liga, of course). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cicero 3,837 Posted December 11, 2018 2 minutes ago, JOSHBRFC said: Serie A has been shite in recent years and so predictable. It's about as competitive as the German and French League. Long way off what it once was and quite far behind the 2 best and most competitive league's. (Premier League and La Liga, of course). Here's hoping Dortmund change that Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoshBRFC 744 Posted December 11, 2018 1 minute ago, Cicero said: Here's hoping Dortmund change that Yes! Would be very happy to see them win the League and interrupt the boring Bayern dominance. And even more happy that a young English player is playing a key part in that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Gonzo 4,594 Posted December 12, 2018 Did he say that he's taken on a challenge by joining a side that's won the league the last 7 years in a row? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMG 224 Posted December 12, 2018 11 hours ago, Cicero said: Imagine being criticised because you are staying loyal to a club, that in no exaggeration, saved your life. Especially when clubs in your "home" country refused to pay treatment. Yeah. Messi is a fraud. Imagine being called GOAT because you've only played for one club, throughout your career, and that club literally revolves around you, so that you can set up a style of football that makes you shine. Yeah. Messi is a great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danny 1,233 Posted December 12, 2018 (edited) This reminds me of Graham Hunter talking about Ronaldo and Messi but in a nutshell Ronaldo needs Messi to compete but Messi doesn't need him. Ronaldo will go down as one of the greats, has been a phenomenal athlete and footballer in multiple countries but there's no reason for Messi to leave Barce and Spain for a division of lesser quality like Serie A. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMG 224 Posted December 12, 2018 9 minutes ago, Danny said: This reminds me of Graham Hunter talking about Ronaldo and Messi but in a nutshell Ronaldo needs Messi to compete but Messi doesn't need him. I see the point that you are trying to make here. It's a bit like PSG needs more competition in the domestic league to be taken seriously, else people will keep writing them off for being in a easy league. But the same goes for Barca. If La Liga wasn't so competitive, neither Barca nor Real would be such iconic household names in places where the problems are far bigger than football. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScoRoss 499 Posted December 12, 2018 15 hours ago, JOSHBRFC said: Serie A has been shite in recent years and so predictable. It's about as competitive as the German and French League. Long way off what it once was and quite far behind the 2 best and most competitive league's. (Premier League and La Liga, of course). Serie A was the only major European league to have a title race last season with Juventus eventually winning by for points. The Bundesliga was won by 21 points, Ligue 1 by 13 points, the EPL by 19 and La Liga by 14 points. They have also been far more competitive in Europe in recent seasons than their French and German counterparts. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 2,607 Posted December 12, 2018 4 hours ago, ScoRoss said: Serie A was the only major European league to have a title race last season with Juventus eventually winning by for points. The Bundesliga was won by 21 points, Ligue 1 by 13 points, the EPL by 19 and La Liga by 14 points. They have also been far more competitive in Europe in recent seasons than their French and German counterparts. Indeed Serie 'A' was possibly the most competitive out of the five great European leagues last season when we observe the final points differences at the end of the campaign. But going onto Devil's Advocate mode, I would say that the end result to the Italian league championship took an almighty effort breaking all records for Italian football and Napoli themselves in terms of points accumulated. You could envisage Juventus repeating such a feat again considering their quality by comparison to their fellow competitors in Italy, but for Napoli to reproduce the same or better would be almost miraculous. In other words, the unbalance of power is massive in Italy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carnivore Chris 1,999 Posted December 12, 2018 (edited) 15 hours ago, AMG said: Imagine being called GOAT because you've only played for one club, throughout your career, and that club literally revolves around you, so that you can set up a style of football that makes you shine. Yeah. Messi is a great. The style now is absolutely nothing like it was under Pep though, or under Rijkaard, or under Enrique or under Martino. All completely different set ups with completely different players, so that doesn't make sense. It would be easier for Messi to have fucked off to City a few years ago, rather than evolve and adapt his game. I thought the argument was always that he needed Xavi, Iniesta and Alves? None are at the club now yet he's playing football on a completely different level right now to anyone else on the planet. To consistently perform for the same club and evolve as your team, managers and backroom staff constantly change around you isn't any easier than moving around. It's probably more difficult if anything. Moving to PSG, a club who win their league every season without fail, wouldn't be a more difficult challenge at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viva la FCB 1,053 Posted December 12, 2018 (edited) On 11/12/2018 at 06:58, Cicero said: Here's hoping Dortmund change that Theres a good chance of that happening as we've done our best to play like shite and self destruct from management outwards this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScoRoss 499 Posted December 14, 2018 Love this headline. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cicero 3,837 Posted January 14, 2019 "Cristiano talks about new challenges. He calls it a challenge to go to a team already armed & that has been winning the Serie A for several years. Bullshit, going to Juve is no challenge" - Zlatan Got to admire Zlatan's brutally honest opinions. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eco 2,117 Posted January 31, 2019 On 11/12/2018 at 09:56, JOSHBRFC said: Serie A has been shite in recent years and so predictable. It's about as competitive as the German and French League. Long way off what it once was and quite far behind the 2 best and most competitive league's. (Premier League and La Liga, of course). I don't think it's as bad as the French league, where you have 1 giant and a couple of teams that have good years. Inter Milan is getting better, Napoli and Roma are stable, and just maybe one day Milan will get their crap back together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cicero 3,837 Posted February 25, 2019 (edited) Is this a Portuguese thing? To constantly remind people how many trophies you've won when you receive a little stick? Aside the plastic surgeries, just how insecure is he? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Cannabis Posted February 25, 2019 He's a proper bad knob. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Machado 1,270 Posted February 25, 2019 39 minutes ago, Cicero said: Is this a Portuguese thing? To constantly remind people how many trophies you've won when you receive a little stick? Aside the plastic surgeries, just how insecure is he? Just very unfortunate that the two most widely known portuguese individuals in football have strange personalities. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites