Jean-Clair Todibo, recently loaned to Schalke 04 by Barcelona, recalled what it was like training with Lionel Messi. In an interview with Bild, the French defender said he progressed a lot by facing Messi in training, and was very careful to avoid hurting the Argentine star.
“I learned a lot, I even tackled him a few times. But we all defended against Messi carefully, nobody wants to hurt him,” the young Frenchman said.
Todibo also revealed his idol is Andrea Pirlo, in part because he wore number 21, the same as the defender now does for Schalke.