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Former Arsenal and Chelsea French star Nicolas Anelka says there is nothing so extraordinary about Lionel Messi.
Messi, 34, is yet to score a league goal or assist in four Ligue 1 appearances since joining PSG from Barcelona.
But Messi has found some form in the UEFA Champions League with three goals in three games.
Despite the Argentine’s match-winning contributions in the Champions League, his domestic form has seen him come in for criticism, with teammate Neymar also receiving similar treatment from some quarters.
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Anelka, who played for PSG in the past, has now weighed in on the matter, insisting that Messi deserves to have as much questions asked of him as Neymar has.
“Today we demand from Neymar, but we can do the same with Messi,” the 2000 Champions League winner with Real Madrid told radio programme RMC.
“Since the beginning of the season it is not extraordinary either.
“There is a player who has six Ballon d’Ors and in the end he is not so extraordinary.”
This is not the first time Anelka has commented on the Argentine forward since his move to Paris from Spain, telling Le Parisien in September that Messi “must serve [Kylian] Mbappe”.
“Mbappe has to lead the attack because he’s No. 1,” the 42-year-old told the French news outlet.
“Messi was at Barcelona, but now he has to serve Mbappe.
“He’s been at the club for five years and Messi has to respect him.”
7 Comments
Hmm, nah wah, i smell envy.
If you sign a player and pays him 34M he has not scored a singles league goal. Will you laugh about it.
Is obvious he is jealous of Mercy
Anelka even at his ripe age he is not growing up and always wants to be controversial, just trying to make himself relevant when the world is no longer noticing him or paying attention to him, no champion for ever
Anelka Messi right foot is better than the whole of you
There are some people who hate but cover their hatred absolutely- these ones are very dangerous. However, there are others that hate and the hatred is so overt. Anelka belongs to the latter. A professional with unbridled tongue is worse than amateur.
I don’t think Aneika hates Messy as such. When you take the amount of money ($34M) a year that is being paid to Messy and what he is producing for the Club at the moment, l am sure Messy is frustrated and getting embarrassed himself. He should be expecting that some one has to come out openly to say it. Age (34) is catching up with him now like it has done to so many footballers before him.
Great comment Anelka