EastStandBlue
Life President
On a Sunday I usually get a copy of the News of the Screws as well as the Observer purely for the actually impressive football coverage, and today the supplement has an "exclusive" interview with Lionel Messi. Good, I thought.
During the interview, something came up that i've certainly not heard before. After he was rejected by River Plate for being too small despite his talent, he joined Newell's Old Boys and progressed through. While there, it became apparent that he wasn't growing as he should it arose that he needed growth hormones in order to save his professional career.
He admits that his family aren't poor by Argentinian standards but couldn't afford the treatment by any means. Barcelona swooped in and paid for his treatment and, eventually, took Messi and his family to Spain and things have gone on from there.
What I would like to know is, how is this any different from an English club inducing a European youngster to sign by offering jobs to unemployed parents, or residence for families? Messi's family required something that they couldn't afford, and Barcelona footed the bill... No doubt with a view in mind that Messi would look on that should he develop rapidly, as he did, with the treatment.
During the interview, something came up that i've certainly not heard before. After he was rejected by River Plate for being too small despite his talent, he joined Newell's Old Boys and progressed through. While there, it became apparent that he wasn't growing as he should it arose that he needed growth hormones in order to save his professional career.
He admits that his family aren't poor by Argentinian standards but couldn't afford the treatment by any means. Barcelona swooped in and paid for his treatment and, eventually, took Messi and his family to Spain and things have gone on from there.
What I would like to know is, how is this any different from an English club inducing a European youngster to sign by offering jobs to unemployed parents, or residence for families? Messi's family required something that they couldn't afford, and Barcelona footed the bill... No doubt with a view in mind that Messi would look on that should he develop rapidly, as he did, with the treatment.
