‘Opposite profile of Messi’: Roberto Martinez gushes over reported Liverpool target

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Roberto Martinez told CBS’s Champions League coverage (16/02/21 at 10:15 pm) that reported Liverpool target Kylian Mbappe is the ‘opposite profile of Messi’.

On Tuesday night, the PSG star showed the footballing world why clubs, such as Liverpool and Real Madrid are keen on his signature when he struck a devastating hat-trick against Barcelona in the Champions League.

Taking the same field as Lionel Messi himself, the 22-year-old rising star upstaged one of the greats of the game in a memorable night at the Nou Camp.

Former Everton boss Martinez waxed-lyrical about the speedster and made a claim about his future.

“Mbappe is 11 years younger (than Messi) but he is a player capable of leading a project,” said Martinez. “The opposite profile of Messi.

“That was the pick of the three (his hat-trick goal). What a hat-trick. What a moment to do it. And what a personality for a young man. 22-years-old and he showed everything he can do on a football pitch.

“This is the biggest game we have seen Kylian Mbappe play at club level. We have seen him at the World Cup, with France and we have seen him take that responsibility. Scoring a hat-trick without Neymar.”

Liverpool are one of the clubs keen to secure Mbappe’s signature, with ESPN suggesting that the Real Madrid target would welcome the challenge on Merseyside.

But Anfield legend Carragher suggested (read here) that Mbappe should perhaps move to the Premier League first before going to Madrid, and Martinez issued this response to the Sky pundit.

“He’s French, so his attraction is not going to be to the Premier League. Maybe eventually or accidentally (he might end up in the PL).

“But now you have Zinedine Zidane at the helm of Real Madrid. I think there is a connection there. Many things can happen from now until the end of the season, of course.”

Whilst PSG walk Ligue 1 year in, year out, albeit Lille are sitting top of the tree now, it’s the Champions League that they crave the most.

If they can add that to their cabinet for the first time this season then it wouldn’t be a surprise to see their superstar depart.

Either way, it will happen one day given the historic power the clubs who are chasing him have.