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Lionel Messi Urged To Honour Late Diego Maradona By Signing For Napoli

Lionel Messi Urged To Honour Late Diego Maradona By Signing For Napoli

Lionel Messi's contract with Barcelona is coming to an end.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Lionel Messi has been urged to sign for Napoli in tribute to the late Diego Maradona.

Compatriots Messi and Maradona have regularly been compared to one another due to their eerily similar playing styles and the fact they both have strong links to both FC Barcelona and Newell's Old Boys.

Messi paid respects to Maradona after his recent passing when he revealed a Newell's shirt with the No.10 on the back following a stunning solo goal his fellow Argentine would have been proud of against Osasuna.

Image: PA
Image: PA

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner's future at the Nou Camp is in serious doubt, with Messi's contract set to expire at the end of the season and the 33-year-old unlikely to extend.

And his former teammate Kevin Prince-Boateng reckons Messi should follow in Maradona's footsteps and make the move to Naples, where 'El Diego' is worshipped.

"Messi's going to finish his contract at Barcelona, [but] how amazing would it be if he would just call Napoli and say 'I will come'?" Boateng told ESPN .

"'They don't give out the No.10 shirt anymore, [but] I would love to honour Maradona's No.10 and I would love to come and play one year or two years at Naples, without thinking about money or nothing, just heart'.

"It would be like a movie.

"He'd have to go to practice by a f*cking helicopter because people would eat him alive. They'd be so happy.

"But just that story: 'In honour of Maradona, I will come and play for Naples', what kind of story would that be for the world, not only for football, for the world?

"It would be a message, it would be history everywhere. I just wish I would be in Messi's shoes. I want to be Messi. I would call the president of Naples and I would tell him."

Image: PA
Image: PA

Napoli have retired Maradona's No.10 shirt and recently renamed their stadium to 'Stadio Diego Armando Maradona'.

Following on from his passing at the age of 60, Marseille boss Andre Villas-Boas believes the No.10 shirt should be retired universally.

Meanwhile, Maradona's eldest son wants Messi to give up his No.10 shirt and has asked every club his dad played for to do the same.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics:Β Football News, FC Barcelona, Football, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Napoli

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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