Messi responds to CR7’s challenge to join him in Italy

Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi has responded to the challenge thrown at him by nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo, who had said that he would like Messi to accept a ‘challenge like me’.

Messi responded to the slight dig in style, saying that he is already playing for the best team in the world while speaking to Marca in an exclusive interview.

“I don’t need any change. I’m at the best team in the world,” Messi responded to Ronaldo’s challenge.

“My challenges are renewed year after year. I do not need to change teams or leagues to set new goals. I am at home and I do not need to change,” he reiterated, placing importance on the love he feels for Barcelona while at the same time also making it clear that he fills various roles in the side apart from his playmaking and scoring abilities, meaning  there is no dearth of new objectives every season. Messi has shown incredible free-kick scoring form this season, getting better with his trajectory.

The Barcelona star did, however, concede that the rivalry between the two was healthy and competitive, saying, “The rivalry with Cristiano was very healthy and good for the fans.”

Since Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus this summer, Real Madrid have struggled to get going in the league while Barcelona sit on top of La Liga at winter break with Messi raking up 15 goals in 15 games and 11 assists to boot in La Liga. Messi also has six goals and a assist in the Champions League this season in four games so far. Ronaldo has started to hit form in the Serie A, scoring 12 goals in 18 games while in the Champions League he has 1 goal and two assists.