Valverde relieved to have ‘unique’ Messi

Ernesto Valverde says it will be a relief to have the “unique” Lionel Messi on his side, rather than coming up with plans to stop the Barcelona superstar.

Barca did the double over Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao in La Liga last season, while Messi also curled in a free-kick winner to knock Athletic out of the Copa Del Rey in January.

Prior to that, Messi hit a brace in the final of the 2015 Copa Del Rey against Valverde’s Basque side and the new Barca coach he is glad he will no longer need to face the Argentine.

Like Messi, Andres Iniesta has spent his entire professional career at Barcelona after coming through the club’s world-famous La Masia academy.