Carlos Tevez has insisted that he enjoys a strong rapport with Lionel Messi and slammed the media for trying to suggest otherwise.
The Argentine pair were believed to have engaged in a bust-up before the 2014 World Cup, resulting in the Juventus striker being discarded from Alejandro Sabella’s 23-man squad, while they spoke to each other with their mouths cupped after the Champions League final, which Barcelona won 3-1.
“Messi and I laugh about everything that’s been said,” he told Clarin.
“We know that a look or a hug [to one another] already says a million things. There’s no need to say anything else.
“It’s natural to chat [in our friendship], like before the Champions League final
"We also had a chat after the World Cup. He greeted me with a hug and we spoke about football for two hours.
“We know each other very well. I know how he applies himself and he knows how I apply myself. That creates trust between us.
“Everything that’s been said is a product of the Press. You can see [our alleged conflict] sells, but the only one out injured is the national team.
"Sometimes people think we’re talking about something important, but there’s no truth in that. It’s all rubbish.
“I’ve always said [that Messi’s the best in the world], but apparently I don’t think so. I even said it again before the Champions League final.
“Messi’s the best player in the world and nobody can dispute what he’s achieved.
“You can’t compare me or anyone else to him. Our rivalry doesn’t exist and [Argentine football] suffers as a result.
“It’s what sells. Messi and Tevez being friends doesn’t sell, but Messi and Tevez being enemies does.
“We all know that [Argentina] are [Copa America] candidates. We have to win it and we all want to. This generation of players has to win something.”
