Benitez `as good as Messi` - McIntosh

The British agent of Ecuador striker Christian Benitez believes his client is as good a player as Barcelona`s Lionel Messi or his Argentina team-mate Carlos Tevez.Birmingham have reportedly made an offer of around £9million for the 23-year-old forward, who currently plays for Mexican side Santos Laguna.Benitez`s representative Barry McIntosh told the Birmingham Mail: "He is as good as Messi and Tevez. It's just the fact that he's from Ecuador and his nationality overshadows just how good he actually he is."He's far more experienced than Mauro Zarate was when he came to England and he's got good feet, is skilful and is good in the air."I think we would be talking about £30million to £40million if he was Argentinian or Brazilian. He is better than Antonio Valencia and the equivalent of Messi."

Source: Eurosport