Dele Alli over Lionel Messi? Tottenham fan sensationally claims he WOULDN’T swap Barcelona superstar for England midfielder OR Heung-min Son
A Tottenham fan has sensationally claimed he'd rather have Dele Alli or Heung-min Son in his Spurs XI over Lionel Messi.
The football world was sent into shockwaves earlier this week when the Argentine superstar formally declared his desire to leave Barcelona - the club he has spent the entirety of his career at.
Unsurprisingly, speculation has been rife about where he could go next, with a reunion with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City appearing the most likely destination.
However, Lee, who called in to talkSPORT's Drive show with Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent, has claimed he'd rather have some of the current Spurs stars in his side over Messi due to his age.
“I’d keep Harry Kane over Messi," he remarked. “Harry is 27 and is in his prime and Messi is 33.
"Messi was poor in the last World Cup. He didn’t do anything and Argentina flopped. That’s a fact.
“He also did nothing at Anfield last year when Barca capitulated [in the Champions League].
“This isn’t the Messi of five years ago is it? This is Messi who is 33, who had a poor World Cup.
“Barca haven’t won the Champions League for five years. He’s an ageing player and not the player he was.”
When quizzed further about whether he’d swap Son or Alli for him, Lee continued: “I don’t think I would. He’s been a great player - of course he has - one of the greatest players of all time.
“I wouldn’t [swap him for Alli]. If you have Messi at the club you want him to lead the line.
"If you have him at Arsenal - [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang wouldn’t play. It’s the same with City for [Sergio] Aguero.
“That’s what people have to understand about Messi, wherever he goes he’s going to expect to led the line.”
Messi has been synonymous with Barca for more than a decade, helping the club win four Champions League crowns, 10 LaLiga titles and many other honours.
The 33-year-old has scored a remarkable 634 goals in 730 matches at the Camp Nou.
However, talkSPORT's Simon Jordan believes there's absolutely no chance he will leave the club where he made his name.
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“He’s got a contract that says he may leave if he issues a notice before June 10 – that’s set in wool," Jordan said.
“He’s not got a deed of variation that says ‘if the season gets extended he can extend the time he gets to serve his notice’.
“He will be doing what he’s bloody well told by Barcelona in the end.
“Barcelona are not on the back foot. They’re on the back foot in the public domain, on the back foot because their president is not liked by the players, on the back foot because a 33-year-old Lionel Messi has stolen the march on what he wants for the football club…
“But they’re not on the back football contractually! It’s cobblers!
“Will Lionel Messi be turning out for Barcelona this season? Yes!"