On the eve of the Rosario classic at the Coloso Marcelo Bielsa and with the European press speculating about the future of Lionel Messi, the president of Newell’s Old Boys, Ignacio Astore, wanted to be very cautious but did not rule out trying to tempt the great Argentine star, if he remains free.
In an interview with Infobae, the leper leader clarified from the outset that he did not speak with Leo and throughout the interview he took care of his words so as not to create an illusion without a real basis.
“He is a player who has a contract until June. Nor do I want to get involved in the fanaticism of the fan that he wants to have it yes or yes. There are times, we have to wait, that Newell’s has to take its path of transformation and growth. Later, time and life will tell how this film ends,” Astore stressed at the outset, when the French media already take it for granted that Messi will not continue in Paris Saint Germain beyond June. While in Spain the hope of his return to Barcelona grows.
It is also known that Leo would like to be able to play at some point in the club of his loves, although other destinations seem more likely and the president of Newell’s was also clear about that chance.
“Any fan, from Boca Juniors, River Plate, Racing, us, or whoever, it’s logical that they want to have the best player in the world, but sometimes things don’t happen.”
“Today the player has a contract with another club and we respect the institutions. Whatever his name is, I’m not going to sit down and talk to a player who has a contract. That is not right”.
Once he made it clear that, at the moment, there is nothing in progress for Messi to wear the black and red shirt, Ignacio Astore opened up to the possibility of looking for him if he is free.
“Logically, if you don’t have a contract (in July) and you don’t have a club, we will surely sit down and talk. At the moment it seems to me a lack of respect that I invade the professional to the extent that he has activity. That does not correspond. Because the partner can say “what is Astore doing that he does nothing to bring him to the best player in the world”. And Astore, today, honestly, he can’t do anything because now the best player in the world is at PSG and with a contract. These polls do not exist because the cards are down. Just as someone can say “Messi is going to Newell’s”, today I can assure you that he is not coming because there is nothing planned”.
What would the contact be like, if necessary? «By relatives, by the club, by him (Messi). Whenever there are intentions to get closer, in any area of life, either you send it to them or they send it to you, or you probe it, or you look for it ».
Regarding the economic engineering to be able to pay a player of such a level, Astore believes that Messi alone will attract investors: «A player of these characteristics opens doors in the world. But I can assure you that, with someone like Leo, the sponsors come alone. A player like him vindicates the country. He promotes and recategorizes Argentine soccer. This is what you have to take into account and from that there is a range of tremendous possibilities ».
For now, seeing Messi at Newell’s and in Argentine football is nothing more than a dream, but Qatar 2022 showed -both to Leo and to an entire country- that sometimes dreams come true. (ESPNDEPORTES)
