Al-Shabab midfielder, Ivan Rakitic, has submitted that Lionel Messi, was not best captain at Barcelona, adding he could be the best left back in the world if he so desired.
The former Barcelona player stated this in an interview with Micspod, adding that Messi doesn’t defend once the team are exposed.
“I don’t have to explain to Messi how to play. I have to know where to put myself in attack so that I have a more advantageous situation. He doesn’t have to defend, that’s my job.
The Croatian midfielder, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona from 2014 to 2020, asserted that the footballing legend wasn’t the best at explaining ‘what you had to do’ while captaining the club.
Messi wore the captain’s armband for three seasons from 2018 to 2021, taking over from Andres Iniesta, and led his team to the La Liga title in 2019.
“Messi is the best in history, and if he put his mind to it, he could be the best left back in the world if he wanted to!” he said via Diario AS.
“Although he was sometimes not the best captain to tell you what you had to do, that was because he was unique and different.”
He also said, “We lost the Champions in 2018 and 2019 ourselves.
Both players have since departed Barcelona, with Messi leaving in 2021 to join Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain. The World Cup winner now plays in MLS with Inter Miami, where he was appointed captain in 2024.
Meanwhile, Rakitic returned to his former club Sevilla after leaving the Camp Nou. He later joined Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League, becoming one of many players in the twilight of their careers to accept a lucrative offer.
