If you want to know how big an idol this player is all you have to do is just go ask Jorge Messi. For Lio’s dad, that must be a dream come true if Gerardo Martino is finally presented as coach of FC Barcelona.
“Tata” was a mainstay in the success of the clubs of the 80’s and early 90’s forLa Lepra. He was the man that was able to carry out young Bielsa’s concepts and interpret them the best on the pitch. So much so was his ability to synchronize with a man aptly nicknamed “El Loco”, that he eventually became his assistant. At this stage, the kid that made his debut at 17 years of age against Platense was being groomed a one of the most important footballing minds around. He was the man in the heart of the midfield and the emotional sparkplug for Bielsa’s title-winning sides back then. With 505 matches playing for the red and black half of Rosario he was the top choice by a landslide, to say the least.
Now he has the opportunity to become the coach of one of the best squads of the past decade over at Can Barça. He is not stranger to being wanted in Europe, no need to go any further that just this past June when the Madrid press were pointing out that there were negotiations going on to bring in Martino after Jose Mourinho decided to go to Chelsea once again. Martino was also rumored to take over as Colombian national team coach, before they decided to go with José Pekerman. There was also a concerted effort on the part of Santos to obtain the services of the Argentine coach.
While his teacher was about offering up the most complex answer about any subject, Martino was more about simplicity. How simple? Well he doesn’t have an agent.
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