Former Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello says Messi is more skillful than Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the Ballon d’Or press conference

Former Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello has said that Cristiano Ronaldo is not as skillful as his rival at Barcelona, Lionel Messi is.The 68-year-old Italian has said that the current Ballon d’Or holder "does not possess the pure technical skill" of the 27-year-old Argentian.

"Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are two extraordinary players but they are different." Capello said.

"Cristiano is a powerful player, with very good technique, but he does not possess the pure technical skill of Messi.” he added.

The current Russia manager revealed that he first saw Messi in 2005 when he was the coach of Juventus in a Gamer’s Trophy match vs Barcelona.

Capello was so impressed with the skills displayed by the Argentian that he asked the then Barca manager Frank Rijkaard if he could him loan to the Italian giants during that game.

"It's completely true that I asked [then Blaugrana boss Frank] Rijkaard if he would loan me Messi.” he confirmed.

"When the play had stopped for a minute I went over to Rijkaard and said: 'You can't play him because you've got three foreigners already. Why don't you let me have him for a year?”

"Rijkaard replied: “We're going to clear up the situation in three or four months and for that reason I can't do it.” he added.

Capello added that he found Messi to be different as compared to the other players.

"I could see that he could do things that didn't occur to other players." he said.