Lionel Messi backs Gerardo Martino to replace Vilanova at Barcelona

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona is on the verge of signing former Newell’s Old Boys coach Gerardo Martino as their new manager. The deal is believed to be around three years.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who played youth football for Newell’s, has backed Martino to take charge at the Camp Nou, as he sees the Argentine coach as the perfect person to continue the team’s football philosophy.

“I like ‘Tata’ Martino,” Messi told Diario Ole.

“He is a great coach and he showed that…with what he did for (Newell’s), the way it ended and how he did it.”

“He gets his teams playing well and we all respect him.”

Martino stepped down as Newell’s boss after they were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores. The Rosario-born coach is considered a disciple of highly-rated Argentine tactician Marcelo Bielsa, who most recently coached Athletic Bilbao.

Source: The Guardian