Ezequiel Lavezzi has confessed that he ‘wouldn’t like to be’ Lionel Messi due to the media intrusion endured by the Barcelona star on a daily basis.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who is a regular teammate of the No 10 in the Argentina squad, admits he despises the fame associated with his compatriot’s status as one of the world’s best players – to the extent that he has become disillusioned with football.
“No, I wouldn’t want to be like [Messi]. It’s not an easy life when you are recognised by everyone all the time. I prefer to stay out of the spotlight,” he said to Marca Plus.
“When I played with him as a child, I noticed his potential. I don’t see him as the best in the world but, rather, more of a friend.
“Sometimes I think about quitting and retiring from football. It’s an idea which is on my mind even now, not just in the past.”