Three years after the World Cup: How is the relationship between Messi and Sampaoli?

This weekend, Ligue 1 will have a new edition of Le Classique, when Olympique Marseille faces PSG in a duel not suitable for the heart in football in France. The expectation generated by the confrontation is very great and it will also cause the reunion of some old acquaintances, such as the Argentine Jorge Sampaoli and Lionel Messi, coach and player respectively.

A couple of days before the start of the meeting, the coach only had words of praise for the ‘Flea’. “I trained with teams that played against Messi, I also directed him. We know that he is the best player in the world. It is very difficult to control, its creativity is unpredictable”, expressed the DT.

In his extensive career, Jorge Sampaoli had the opportunity to direct Lionel Messi in the Argentine National Team, although the results were not the best when he was eliminated by the current world champion in Russia 2018. “I did not meet him in a favorable context for be able to take advantage of it, but I never changed my opinion about it. We see that he continues with his long career at the highest level, he is eternal and he does everything thanks to his professionalism ”, added the coach.

Despite the relationship they had at the time, Sampaoli indicated that he has not had communication with the forward in recent years. “It will be a pleasure to meet him on the field, although I understand that it will be difficult to face him. I haven't talked to him since the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when we were talking in the national team's dressing room, ”he said regarding the PSG striker, who will probably be looked for in a photo in Sunday's game.