Legendary Juventus defender Claudio Gentile has offered advice on how to mark Lionel Messi ahead of the Champions League final against Barcelona.
Renowned as one of the toughest and uncompromising defenders in football during the 1970s and 1980s, the six-time Scudetto winner memorably marked Diego Maradona out a match during the 1982 World Cup.
“What would I do against Messi?: The same things I did at the Sarria against Maradona,” the 61-year-old told Marca.
“Above all, to not let him get the ball and if he does, in the worst conditions possible.
“It must never be him that starts off a move with the advantage.
“You need to mark Messi in a special way, to keep him away from the rest of the team.
“Juve need him to feel out of sorts, to feel isolated; they need him to raise his head and not find any Barcelona shirts nearby.
“That’s the only way to limit the effectiveness of his moves.
“I say ‘limit’ because there is no way to completely stop him; that’s impossible.
“A defender has to be strong. That’s something very different to being dirty and going in to do harm. A defender is a defender, not a dancer.”
