Source: Daily_Mail
You're loco, Fergie: How could you let my mate Tevez go, asks Barca's Messi
Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has questioned Manchester United's decision not to keep Carlos Tevez at Old Trafford.
With a week to go before their clubs clash in the Champions League final in Rome, Messi says he is mystified that United manager Sir Ferguson would consider allowing his Argentina team-mate to leave.
'I have no idea why Manchester are letting my countryman go while he is talented enough to be in every team in the world's starting lineup,' Messi told Setanta.
'The problem is that, at teams like Manchester United, lots of players are good enough to start: there's Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Tevez. It's best I don't go on naming them, it'll make me nervous!'
Tevez appeared to wave goodbye to United fans after the goalless draw against Arsenal on Saturday which secured a third consecutive Premier League title.
However, Messi expects to face his compatriot in a week's time.
'Carlitos and I speak on the phone now and then,' he said. 'We get on really well. When we meet up with Argentina we talk about lots of things, but the truth is I never thought our paths would cross in a Champions League final.'
Messi revealed that Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has identified his side's No 1 target for the match in which they, like United, are hunting a domestic and European double after winning the Spanish League. Put succinctly, stop Cristiano Ronaldo and you stop United.
'They're a great team (United). If you go through the whole squad, you'd be hard-pushed to know which player to choose if you had to pick just one,' Messi told Champions magazine.
'But clearly you have to start with Cristiano, a great forward who can gambetear (a South American term for dribbling with all the feints, checks, swerves and tricks thrown in) with speed and ease.
'And he has a great medium range shot. We're conscious that in Rome we can't give him time to think or get a shot in from distance. He's a great footballer.'
Messi played down any thoughts of over-confidence in the Barcelona camp, despite their runaway success in La Liga, which has earned them rave reviews across Europe for the quality, and variety, of their attacking play. '
First of all, considering Ferguson's team are a great team, that they are unbeaten in the Champions League for 25 games, and that they are the reigning champions, the most important thing will be to win.
'If we do lift the trophy, we'll be keen to get back to Barcelona quickly. The ideal would be a good party at Nou Camp and in the whole city.'
Adapted from the June edition of Champions, the official magazine of the UEFA Champions League.
