One-time Barcelona talent Malcom has this week revealed that Blaugrana icon Lionel Messi urged him to stay put with the club, prior to departing for Russia.
Attacker Malcom for his part spent a solitary year plying his trade at the Camp Nou, after joining from French outfit Bordeaux back in 2018.
Despite arriving amid high expectations, the Brazilian international ultimately struggled for game time amongst the star-studded options in Barcelona’s frontline.
Malcom, as a result, made the call to move on in the summer of 2019, taking his talents to Russia with Zenit St. Petersburg.
One individual who had remained hopeful of the 29-year-old staying put at the time, though, was none other than Lionel Messi. Speaking during an interview with Abu Dhabi Sports TV program 90 Minutes, as cited by Cadena SER, on Friday, Malcom admitted:
“When I was about to leave for Russia, Messi came to talk to me and said: ‘You’re a player with a very bright future, and you’ll become a great footballer.’ He asked me to stay. He said: ‘Stay here, you’re one of Barça’s future players.'”
The talented winger continued:
“I was young and wanted to play matches, gain experience and demonstrate my potential. I wanted to show what I was capable of doing on the pitch.”
Conor Laird – GSFN
