Ex-Real Madrid and Liverpool goalkeeper slams 'RUDE' Messi

FT Desk

• 11 Oct 2022 10:03 CDT
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi is often perceived as a shy, retiring person who just so happens to be a footballing genius, but former Real Madrid and Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has a different perspective…

Dudek won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, famously saving Andrea Pirlo and Andriy Shevchenko spot-kicks as the Reds beat AC Milan 3-2 on penalties having come from 3-0 down to secure a 3-3 draw in normal time in the 'Miracle of Istanbul'.

He later joined Real Madrid on a free transfer, where he acted as understudy to Iker Casillas at the height of the former Spain No.1's career. Dudek only played 12 games in all competitions during his four-year spell at the Bernabeu, but he was present for enough Clasicos to get the measure of Messi.

Messi scored 26 goals and added 14 assists in 47 career games for Barcelona against their great rivals before leaving on a free to Paris Saint-Germain last summer, and his run-ins with long-time Madrid captain Sergio Ramos became famous.

"He was very provocative, as were Barcelona and their manager Pep Guardiola," Dudek told Italian outlet Il Posticipo. "They were always ready to annoy you and many times they managed it perfectly."

Messi 'seems so calm and friendly'

"I've seen and listened to Messi saying very rude things to Pepe and Ramos that you can't even think about. Imagine what can come out of the mouth of a person who seems so calm and friendly."

Messi and Ramos now find themselves as teammates at the Parc des Princes, and they have put their differences behind them, publicly at least. That doesn't mean that they will be teammates for long.

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Barca are working hard to bring Messi back to Camp Nou, and recently announced that they were to erect a statue of him outside the stadium to commemorate his achievements.

The 35-year-old is still performing at an elite level, and this season has contributed eight goals and eight assists from 13 games in all competitions for PSG.