Argentine coach
Sergio Batista
, who led the Argentine team that won the gold medal at the
2008 Beijing Olympics
, revealed that
Lionel Messi and Juan Román Riquelme
"were fighting at that time
. "
El
Checho
, 61, remembered the best moments as coach with both players on the field.
"How I enjoyed those Olympics! How well the sons of bitches played! How well they played, I had fun!"
, he commented in a relaxed interview on "
Lo del Turco Beach"
, a program hosted from the beach by former soccer player
Claudio García
, which is broadcast on YouTube.
While reviewing the consecration in China, Batista also revealed an unknown detail about the relationship at that time between Messi and Riquelme, who today maintain a great bond, to the point that the captain of the Argentine national team attended the farewell match organized by the Boca idol, in June 2023, at La Bombonera.
“Messi and Román”
Because “Checho” Batista revealed that when they became champions of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, both players were fighting.
“At that moment, Riquelme and Messi were fighting.
They came from the Major like this," said the then coach of the National Team. pic.twitter.com/xvXM2wRgcj
— Trends in Argentina (@becauseTTarg) January 26, 2024
"I saw that they were fighting.
Lionel and Román were fighting at that time
. They came from the Major and were fighting at that time
," confirmed the coach of the team that won Argentina's last gold medal in soccer at the Olympic Games. .
And when it was pointed out to him that these differences were not noticeable on the court, Batista explained:
"Román is a very badass, he is a lively son of a bitch
. "
And he insisted: "Román and Lionel at one point didn't get along well, now they do. But seeing those guys play, the truth is, how can it be."
final match Argentina national team gold medal celebration celebrations Argentinian players footballers OLY-2008-FBL-ARG-NGR-FINAL - Argentina's football team coach Sergio Batista (C) gives instructions to Argentinian midfielder Juan Riquelme (R) during the men's Olympic football final at the national stadium in Beijing during the 2008 Beijing Olympic games on August 23, 2008. Argentina won 1-0.
AFP PHOTO / JEWEL SAMAD beijing china Sergio Batista juan roman riquelme beijing 2008 olympic games football training squad footballers argentine olympic team under 23 nigeria
To close, regarding the instructions he could give to two players of that category, he acknowledged:
"I told them the way to play that I wanted and liked, and then they played
. "
In this competition, Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 in the final with a goal from Ángel Di María, and achieved its second consecutive gold medal in that discipline, a feat that until now remains the last for Argentina in this sport. .