At 37, Jose Fonte doesn’t have so many challenges left in his football career. A champion with Lille in 2021, a European champion with Portugal in 2016… but the steady defender found a new challenge. In fact two: to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to Lille and to keep a clean sheet against Neymar, Mbappe and Messi! And while the first challenge seems a bit unreal, the other one could be achieved and to remembered forever. Messi: ‘I want to win the Champions League’In his recent interview for Talk Sport, a former Southampton man revealed his thoughts on Messi’s arrival in Ligue 1, his Portugal teammate Ronaldo, but also on the Financial Fair play rules and PSG’s role in it. Off course, his first wish was to bring Ronaldo to France. “It’s exciting. Obviously in terms of competitors it’s going to be even harder for us but we’re up for a challenge – I’m texting Cristiano to come to Lille every day! He’s only replied ‘ha ha ha’. Sporting wise it’s great for French football. We’ll try to use our weapons and I’ll try to bring Cristiano somehow, I’ll come up with a plan! He’s only missing the French title…” explained laughing Fonte. JOSE FONTE:“I feel great because it’s incredible to hear a player like Lionel Messi is in French football in our league.“It’s going to be even harder for us but we’re up for a challenge – I’m texting Cristiano to come to Lille every day! He’s only replied ‘ha ha ha’.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/Z546f8pj0p— The CR7 Timeline. (@TimelineCR7) August 10, 2021 On a more serious note, The Portuguese defender is now focused on the future meeting with Messi and other two forwards, Neymar and Mbappe and admits it will be a tough game in October, when the two teams are scheduled to meet. “It has to be a team effort. If you’re going to play man for man or individual football they’re going to beat you nine times out of ten. They are faster, skill-wise they are second to none. We have to defend as a team, don’t give space in behind so our line has to be a little bit further back, the midfield has to help out, the wingers must be tight so they can’t allow space in between the lines. If you can do it as a collective effort, you can stop them. We’ve done it a few times but it will be incredibly hard. What a great challenge to have, what a thing to say to your kids, ‘we played against Messi, Neymar and Mbappe and managed to win and keep a clean sheet’” said Fonte.SAINT-ETIENNE – LILLEThe Portuguese also reflected on the Financial Fair Play rules, and was puzzled how did PSG managed to sign all these players to big wages and still be within the rules. “I just want to understand the Financial Fair Play in France. Every single club is restricting their spending. They can’t buy a lot, they can’t get players on big wages but then PSG comes and it looks like there’s no law. Everyone had to tighten the budget at Lille, some players had to reduce their wages. Then you come to PSG and you see Gianluigi Donnarumma signing, Sergio Ramos signing, you see Georginio Wijnaldum signing. All these players are coming for big, big wages and they already have lots of players that have incredible wages. That’s where the frustration comes from” admitted Fonte.
