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Lionel Messi’s Argentine teammate Federico Redondo expressed his fondness for La Liga giants Real Madrid in a recent interview with Diario AS. The 21-year-old is a defensive midfielder just like his father, Fernando Redondo, who played for Los Blancos from 1994 to 2000.
Federico Redondo joined Inter Miami in 2024 after a two-year stint at Argentinos Juniors. The young Argentine was asked if he would like to play in La Liga and which club he considers himself to fit into well in the interview with Diario AS. Federico replied:
“Would I like to play in La Liga? It’s a league I like a lot. Good footwork & ball possession. Barça, for example, has a very marked style of play, keeping possession & the ball, it’s nice."
"But I’ve been a Real Madrid fan since I was a kid,” he added.
In his first press conference as an Inter Miami player where he was also presented with the No.55 shirt, Federico expressed his admiration for Lionel Messi and mentioned how the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner played a crucial part in his decision to join the Major League Soccer club. The 21-year-old defensive midfielder said (via GOAL):
"It's a team full of stars and a very ambitious club that is looking to win titles and compete at the top, which caught my attention [for the move]. Obviously Messi being at this club played a big part in my decision. He is the best player in history and to be able to share the pitch with him is a dream. In terms of my position, [I will play] where they need me. At Argentinos [Juniors, his former club] I played both as the 'five' [holding midfielder], inside right, inside left. I feel comfortable in all those positions that I think I can play [well]."
As of yet, Federico Redondo has made four appearances and provided one assist for Inter Miami across all competitions.
Former Real Madrid coach called Lionel Messi a 'genius'
Former Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello, who coached Los Blancos from 1996 to 1997 and again in the 2006–07 season, gave his opinion on the promising Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, where he mentioned that the 16-year-old right winger does not compare to Lionel Messi.
Recalling Lionel Messi's exceptional gameplay against Juventus, which he coached back then in 2005, Fabio Capello said (via Forbes):
"I discovered Messi at the Gamper and 20-25 minutes into the game I approached Rijkaard and asked him to loan him to me that season. He was a genius."
Speaking about Lamine Yamal, the former former Real Madrid manager said (via Forbes):
"Lamine has a lot of quality and is very interesting, but he won't be a genius. Messi, Pele and Maradona were the geniuses. [Cristiano] Ronaldo is very close there."
Fabio Capello also gave his views on the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi debate, where he described the Portuguese icon to be an excellent player, but not a genius when compared to his Argentine rival. Capello said (via Forbes):
"Cristiano is a great player, a great goalscorer, he won titles and the Ballon d'Or, but he hasn't been great like Messi. He's a great footballer, but he's not a genius."
During his two tenures at Real Madrid, Fabio Capello won the La Liga twice, once in 1996–97 and again in 2006–07.
