The Athletic: “We played against Barcelona in pre-season and I was the best player on the pitch by a country mile. Messi was playing.
He went on one of his mad runs and I just thought, ‘I have to tackle him’. I did this massive hook tackle on him. It was an amazing tackle.“There were four or five times when I read his passes and intercepted them.
I went round him. I gave him the eyes and went a different way. It was cool, really cool, to be out there with him. On occasions like that, you’re more alert, you try harder.
You run quicker, you see more. I’m built for that.“I remember on the bus (to the Camp Nou), two players saying to me, ‘If you play well today, Barcelona will sign you’.
Read more on dailystar.co.uk