Messi: "Tata is a great manager. I like him"

One year ago, in August 2012, Leo Messi expressed his admiration for 'Tata' Martino in the Argentinean newspaper 'Olé'. At the time, he had only been the Newell's manager for six months and the team was yet to achieve the success which it managed in 2013.

"I like Tata Martino. He's a great manager and we saw what he did for the team in the 'Clausura', they way it finished and how he managed it. He took the team, made it play well and everyone respects him," said the Argentinean star about 'Tata', one of his father's footballing idols.

Martino's appointment received Leo Messi's blessing, but he is not his only supporter. Zubizarreta has also heard Marcelo Bielsa say great things about the Argentinean manager. What is more, Tata and Sandro Rosell know each other. Martino met the current president when he was the Paraguay manager, and the two have a good relationship.