Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has showered praise on club captain Lionel Messi, calling him a genius. Messi played his first match as Barcelona’s first-choice captain in the club’s La Liga opener against Alaves last night. The 31-year old scored a brace as Barcelona won 3-0.
The Argentine’s first goal was a brilliant low free-kick that went below the ball and into the back of the net. The goal was the 6000th goal in Barcelona’s history.
Valverde said, “Messi is a genius. We’re lucky to be able to see him every day. We’re lucky to be involved in football during the era in which he is playing — we want him to pull a rabbit from the hat every day. There’s still room for Messi to surprise us. He always surprises you — he never ceases to amaze me, honestly. You have to be ready to expect anything from Messi because he sees what no one else sees.”
Barcelona play their first away fixture of the La Liga against Valladolid next Saturday.