Capello hails Messi talent

Barca star is Maradona's successor, according to Fabio

By Lucas Brown   Last updated: 5th February 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Capello hails Messi talent

Messi: World class talent

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Fabio Capello believes that Lionel Messi is Diego Maradona's rightful successor and thinks that the Barcelona star is a better player than either Cristiano Ronaldo or Arjen Robben.

The England head coach has expressed his admiration for the Argentinean forward and thinks that the Albiceleste have at last found a player that can be called Maradona's heir.

Messi has earned universal praise for his form this season for Barcelona and Capello was full of accolades for the player.

"He can do incredible things and is an exceptional player," he told Sport.

"He is Maradona's successor."

Ronaldo swept the board of individual prizes for 2008 while Robben is impressing at Madrid, but Capello thinks that neither of them is as naturally gifted as Messi.

"The two of them are great players, but nobody in the world has the talent that Messi has," he added.

Barca fan

Capello is a fan of Barcelona's short passing game and is confident that they will beat Lyon in the next round of the UEFA Champions League, but will then be tested thereafter.

"They are playing well, with their traditional style. They pass the ball around well because they have the players for that," he continued. "They are a very good team, but if they are the best or not I do not know.

"I think that Barca will progress to the next round (of the Champions League), but after that each tie will be very even."

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