Ariel Ortega spoke about Lionel Messi and his situation at PSG.

Ortega was one of the best midfielders of his generation and had many highs and lows throughout his career. Speaking in an interview with TyC Sports, Ortega was asked about the PSG fans whistling Lionel Messi. Here is what he had to say:

“I hurt for Messi because he is the best there is in football. He represents all of us who like good football. I was a player, not at his level but one knows what he must be feeling when you see him with that face on the pitch.

“The truth is that it’s sad. What can the rest of us expect if he is whistled at?

“I don’t see him as happy as when he was at Barcelona, I don’t see him as fluid either. Everyone underestimates PSG but they lost to guys who have won 700 Champions League matches, not to a normal team. I think it was the form, Leo is great and surely now he has the World Cup as his dream.

“At Barcelona he had team mates with whom he played 15 years with but he has only been in France for seven months. He hasn’t adapted either. These players don’t need much adaptation but I don’t see him with the same ease as Barcelona or the Argentina national team. Surely, he will recover, they will have to find a way for the team to play for him.”

Nehuén Pérez of Udinese commented on the Argentina national team, Lionel Messi and Cristian Romero.

Pérez has been included in the preliminary list of players for Argentina for the March World Cup qualifying matches. The 21 year old defender is on loan at Udinese from Atletico Madrid. Speaking in an interview with ESPN, Perez was asked about the treatment Lionel Messi has gotten recently. Here is what he had to say:

“I saw it after on social media. I don’t know what to say, it’s a shame what they did, there is nothing else to say. For those of us who were part of the sparring team for the national team, we always see him as an idol. That they do that is a shame. Having him as a team mate and being on the national teams, to see him as an idol to sharing a locker room with him is a dream and a beautiful reality.

“Having Messi as a team mate… One sees things he does and you can’t believe it. He is the best for me, with the team mates, we admire him a lot. Facing him was a dream, it’s difficult to stop seeing him as an idol, there are no words to describe what he does on the pitch.”

In regards to the Argentina national team:

“One always wants to be on the national team. If I play, I have more chances to go, I search for competition and to play as much as possible to always try to be there. He tells you things straight up, he is very clear, he doesn’t tie himself to anyone but on the day to day, he pulls everyone to the same side.

“That is later reflected on the pitch. There is something very good and that gives you hope. Age doesn’t matter, if one does things well, no matter how old you are, they can give you the opportunity. One always tries to do things well to win that opportunity.”

Regarding Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur:

“I have already said it. Cuti is crazy. He deserves it from last year with Atalanta, I see him very complete and a great player. He reflected that on the national team, I was his team mate at the U23 team, for me, he is great.”

He also spoke about the World Cup:

“We are all excited for the World Cup but you have to have your feet on the ground, you have to have humility, continue as we are as a group and God willing, fight until the end to be in that final list.”

The Argentina U17 team coached by Pablo Aimar played and won 2-1 against the United States on Tuesday.

Pablo Aimar saw his team trailing after only 33 seconds but it was Santiago Lopez of Independiente which drew Argentina level. A cross in from the left found Lopez as he controlled the ball and scored. The second goal was a Riley Delgado own goal from the United States, as he put the ball in the back of his own net.

Along with Pablo Aimar, Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentina U20 coach Javier Mascherano and AFA president Claudio Tapia all apparently attended the match.

Here was the starting eleven:

Froilán Díaz; Lucas Ramos, Valente Pierani, Thiago Dowd, Gianluca Sciaroni; Ciro Armoa, Juan Giménez, Kevin Gutiérrez; Santiago López, Agustín Ruberto y Tiago Balbuena

They play another friendly match against Uruguay on Wednesday.