Spain boss Luis de la Fuente was asked which player he wished he could hypothetically 'sign' for his country, and pipped for Lionel Messi.
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De la Fuente would 'sign' Messi for SpainBut doesn't think Leo is the GOATInter Miami star set to face Ronaldo in friendlyWHAT HAPPENED?
De la Fuente claimed that the Argentine superstar would be the perfect man to add to his national side. Despite being 36-years-old and playing in MLS, De la Fuente believes, out of all available players in the world, the World Cup-winning captain would be the best player he could 'sign' for Spain. Yet, the Spanish boss was hesitant to label Messi as the greatest of all time, instead choosing Barcelona and Dutch icon, Johan Cruyff.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT DE LA FUENTE SAID
Speaking to , De la Fuente answered some quick-fire questions. To 'who is the best player in history?', the Spanish boss replied simply: "Johan Cruyff.”
Then asked who he would like to sign for the Spanish national team, he laughed and said: "Leo Messi. Have I been original?"
DID YOU KNOW?
De la Fuente may have been granted his wish had Messi elected to play for Spain rather than Argentina. Messi was eligible to play for Spain through his great grandfather, who was born in Balaguer, Catalonia. One can only imagine how dominant the great Spanish sides of the late 2000s would have been with Messi in their line-up.
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?
Messi won't be lining up for La Roja, to De la Fuente's disappointment, but will return to footballing action on February 1 against Al-Nassr in a friendly – a game which sees two of the game's greatest players, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, face off for possibly the final time.