Former Argentina international and a two-time World Cup winner, Daniel Passarella has stated that Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi, is too timid and withdrawn to be the national team skipper.
He added that the 29-year-old lacks the traits of a strong leader, hence should be replaced as national team captain by central defender, Ramiro Funes Mori.
Passarella, who captained Argentina to their first World Cup title in 1978 and was part of the squad that won the trophy again in Mexico eight years later, maintained that Messi is not the right man to lead Argentina.
Since winning the Copa America in 1993, the South American giants are without a senior international trophy, with Argentina being defeated four times in the final on four occasions.
Messi retired from international football after the penalty shootout defeat to Chile in the Copa America Centenario earlier this year, but new coach, Edgardo Bauza recalled and handed him the armband.
But Passarella, while questioning that decision, claimed that centre-back Ramiro Funes Mori is better suited to the role.
He told Chilean publication, El Mercurio, “Not giving the captaincy of Argentina to Messi would take a weight off of him.
“I think Argentina already have a great leader, which is Ramiro Funes Mori. He should be the captain.
“The leader of the group is something different to the way you play and the talent of each player.
“I admire Messi, but I think his personality, his way of being, is withdrawn and timid.”
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