Juventus star Paulo Dybala admits he was wrong to publicly criticise Lionel Messi though says the pair have now made up, while he has revealed how Cristiano Ronaldo’s personality surprised him.
The Argentine is currently self-isolating at his home in Italy after testing positive for coronavirus, though is feeling much better now having only suffered mild symptoms such as shortness of breath when he tried to exercise.
Remarkably, despite how prolific he is in Serie A, Dybala only has two goals in 29 international appearances for Argentina.
Last summer, he claimed it was ‘difficult’ playing alongside Messi because he had to adapt his own game to give the Barcelona man a starring role, and he now admits that was something he should not have said in public.
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‘My words about him? I should have said it differently,’ said Dybala in an interview with the Argentina national team website.
‘There were people who wanted to understand it with bad intention. I never tried to criticize a partner, I just wanted to improve something that was happening.
‘I would have liked to give more to Argentina and achieve better results both in the group and on a personal level.
‘Even I spoke with Leo, because both of us are very similar tactically. Even with [manager Lionel] Scaloni we worked so that we did not clash on the pitch.’
Dybala is one of few players to play with both Messi and Ronaldo – who he has struck up a good relationship with on the pitch at Juve – and he says the Portuguese star could not be further from the image he portrays.
He continued: ‘None of us knew him personally, but as soon as he arrived we discovered an excellent guy, very sociable and always available. I was really surprised, obviously in a positive way.
‘During a trip I said to him, “In Argentina we dislike you a little for the way you are sometimes, but as far as I’m concerned, I met a different person. You surprised me.” He laughed and replied: “I am as I am. I am used to receiving these criticisms.”’
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