Former Barcelona attacker Ibrahim Afellay has lifted the lid on how he communicated with Lionel Messi regardless of their language barrier throughout their time at Camp Nou.
Lionel Messi has left the world in awe along with his performances on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He has scored three objectives and supplied one help to this point, firing Argentina to the quarter-finals of the event.
The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) celebrity has been one of many greatest speaking factors of the World Cup to this point. It’s no completely different within the Netherlands, the nation that can face La Albiceleste within the quarter-finals.
Having rubbed shoulders with Lionel Messi throughout his time at Barcelona, Afellay has opened up about his expertise with him. The Dutchman recalled how the 2 overcame their language barrier to speak with one another.
The previous Barcelona attacker defined that no person besides Pep Guardiola and Gerard Pique spoke English within the dressing room on the time. All people, although, communicated with one another within the language of soccer, in line with him. Afellay was quoted as saying by Dutch broadcasters NOS:
“Many of the gamers at Barcelona didn’t communicate English, besides Pique and coach Guardiola. However in fact, you see one another day by day and everybody speaks the soccer language. Just a few phrases are sufficient to grasp one another.”
It’s evident that Afellay, who referred to as it quits on his profession in January 2021, has nothing however respect for Lionel Messi. Nevertheless, he might be hopeful that his nation, Holland, emerge victorious after they face Argentina within the World Cup on Friday (9 December).
Afellay performed 31 matches with Lionel Messi at Barcelona
Afellay joined the Catalans from Dutch membership PSV Eindhoven for €3 million in January 2011. He went on to stay on their books for four-and-a-half years, however spent a major period of time away on mortgage.
The previous attacker however shared the pitch with Lionel Messi on 31 events. He even arrange a aim for the Argentinean in Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Actual Madrid within the UEFA Champions League semi-finals of the 2010-11 season.
Afellay ultimately swapped the Blaugrana for English membership Stoke Metropolis in the summertime of 2015. Following a short stint with former membership PSV, he hung up his boots final 12 months.
Messi has additionally since put an finish to his affiliation with the La Liga giants, becoming a member of PSG final 12 months. There are strategies that he may quickly be on his option to Main League Soccer (MLS) membership Inter Miami.
