Mourinho's praise for Messi ends with a slap at MLS: "I don't like it"
The Real Madrid coach praised Lionel Messi after his retirement from the Argentina national team was confirmed, although he also took a clear swipe at the North American league.
José Mourinho left no one indifferent at the press conference before the league match between Real Madrid and Real Betis . The Portuguese coach was asked about the announcement of Lionel Messi's retirement from the Argentina National Team , news that sent shockwaves through the world of football .
With the sincerity that characterizes him, the Real Madrid coach paid a heartfelt tribute to the Argentine captain . "Talking about Messi is complicated," he commented with a smile to the press, adding that it is very difficult to find new adjectives to define the career of the "10" .
The strategist also highlighted that the level shown by Messi remains at the highest level , even after playing in his last World Cup at 39 years old. "There are no words that can describe his quality. He arrived at this World Cup and was what we all saw ," he emphasized to the media.
The criticism of MLS and the footprint of a legend
The most direct moment of his statements came when referring to the current stage of Messi's career at Inter Miami . To follow the Rosario native's latest steps on the pitch, the Portuguese coach admitted that he will have to change his own sports viewing habits .
"We’ll have to watch some MLS matches, which is something I don’t like very much, to make the most of these final years" , Mourinho said bluntly in a statement aired by El Chiringuito TV. In this way, he made clear his lack of enthusiasm for the United States league , although he acknowledged that Messi’s mere presence justifies the effort .
The coach insisted on the deep mark the striker's figure leaves on the history of this sport. " He is one of those footballers you will always miss, one of the benchmarks of our generation" , he summed up to explain the void that his definitive departure from the playing fields will leave.
Julian Alvarez's situation in the market
Beyond analyzing Messi's figure, journalistic sources such as La Voz and ESPN Deportes reported the coach's reflections on Julián Álvarez . The striker's current situation was shaped by reports about a possible transfer to FC Barcelona that did not materialize before the transfer window closed.
'When asked about the player's mood regarding remaining in Atlético de Madrid's squad, Mourinho chose not to get involved in other people's controversies . "No one knows the specific situation you mention better than Diego Simeone," he said in reference to the Rojiblanco coach.'
The Real Madrid coach reaffirmed his respect for the internal management of the rival team. "No one knows the institution better than Simeone, so I have absolutely nothing to add on this matter" , he said firmly in response to questions from the press.
The message after the close of the transfer window
Despite avoiding direct conflict, Mourinho took the opportunity to offer a lesson on h ow a professional footballer should act when a transfer does not materialize during the summer transfer window .
"I usually say that if a player is not satisfied with his situation, when September 1 arrives he has to be satisfied or he does not play until January 1 ", explained the Portuguese coach, emphasizing the importance of commitment to the club.
To conclude, the coach of the Madrid side was convinced that Julián Álvarez will continue to play a prominent role in Simeone's system over the coming months. "My feeling is that, at least until December 31, he will remain a very important player for his team ," he concluded.
