admincurry much favour with Barcelona after a tumultuous spell in Madrid.
But Messi spoke kindly of Mourinho and is adamant new Real manager Carlo Ancelotti will mount a serious title challenge next season.
“I think the Spanish league is difficult anyway and will continue being difficult,” said Messi while at the Aspire Academy in Senegal. “We’ll be fighting against strong teams with great players like Real Madrid. Mourinho was a great coach but we know that Ancelotti is equally great. I think Mourinho will also succeed back at Chelsea because he’s a great manager.”
As well as poking Barcelona’s then assistant coach Tito Vilanova in the eye during a Clasico match in 2011, Mourinho riled the La Liga champions on a number of occasions with his off-pitch conduct and press-conference mind games. Mourinho’s conduct led to Barca playmaker Andres Iniesta claiming that he had done “more harm than good” to Spanish football during his time in the capital.
Barcelona have agreed a new deal with Rafael “Rafinha” Alcantara to keep the younger brother of Thiago at the club until 2016. The 20-year-old midfielder may now be used as leverage by the Catalan club to convince Manchester United target and older brother Thiago to stay. Rafinha was previously linked with a move to the Premier League in a deal that may have made England more appealing for Thiago. But the Catalan club are set to hold crisis talks with the wantaway midfielder, who has agreed personal terms of £5,5m a year with United. – Mailonline.
Online Reporter