Messi: Ronaldo destined to be my rival

05-Mar-2013 9:30:00 PM

The Blaugrana forward revealed his foresight after the Portuguese's move to Spain, and the Argentina international also revealed he wants "invented" stories about him to cease

Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi has revealed that he predicted that Cristiano Ronaldo would become his great rival following his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid.

The Portuguese attacker returns to Old Trafford on Tuesday night for the first time since his €93 million move to the Santiago Bernabeu, and the Argentine has hinted his belief that their rivalry which has developed since his arrival in La Liga was foreseeable.

He told Optimum Style: "Even before he [Ronaldo] signed for Madrid, I knew he would be my great rival in the following years."

The Argentine is fed up with rumours being created about him, as he is often the focus of media attention due to his moniker of being the best player on the planet thanks to four consecutive Ballon d'Or awards.

"Most things that have been said about me are invented. I'm a normal guy and I just want people to judge me as a player," he added.

"There is nothing nicer than to score and to win. I play with many good players and it would be wrong to mention just one."