In an unexpected turn of events, the brother of Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho has refuted claims that Lionel Messi unfollowed the rising star on Instagram due to Garnacho’s admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo. The controversy arose when Rio Ferdinand, a United legend, discussed the matter on his Vibe With Podcast, suggesting a rift between Messi and Garnacho.
The Alleged Unfollowing Incident
According to Ferdinand, Garnacho informed him that Messi unfollowed him on Instagram because of the 19-year-old’s open preference for Ronaldo over Messi as his football idol. The revelation came in the aftermath of Garnacho’s impressive goal at Goodison Park, where he paid homage to Ronaldo with the “Sui” celebration. Fans speculated that Messi took offense after Garnacho posted a picture of Ronaldo on Instagram last year, leading to the alleged unfollowing.
Garnacho’s brother, Roberto, took to social media to dismiss the claims and address the controversy. He clarified that Messi never followed his brother in the first place, terming the unfollowing story as “fake.” Roberto urged people to stop creating false narratives to fuel hate, emphasizing that Garnacho admires both Messi and Ronaldo without harboring any rivalry.
In a post on X, Roberto stated, “Fake, Messi never followed him, stop making stuff up just to create hate. Garna loves and admires both of them, and you all are trying to create a rivalry.” He further mentioned seeing videos of Messi showing the World Cup to Garnacho and clarified that his comments weren’t specifically targeted at Rio Ferdinand but aimed at correcting the misinformation about Garnacho.
Messi and Ronaldo’s Historic Rivalry
The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry has been a defining narrative in football for the past two decades. Their competition reached its zenith during their stints at Barcelona and Real Madrid, where they vied for the Ballon d’Or and set new standards of excellence. While they hold mutual respect, the rivalry has been intense, and both players consider themselves the best of their generation.
Garnacho’s remarkable goal at Goodison Park invited comparisons to Wayne Rooney’s iconic winner in the Manchester Derby back in 2011. When asked to weigh in on which goal was superior, Ferdinand, a six-time Premier League champion, unreservedly declared in favor of Garnacho. He praised the young talent for his goal-scoring prowess and described the moment as “unbelievable” and “breathtaking.”
Ferdinand’s analysis drew attention to the uniqueness of Garnacho’s goal, highlighting the skill involved in scoring from a distance and at an angle. Despite Rooney’s memorable strike, Ferdinand asserted that Garnacho’s goal surpassed it in terms of technique and overall impact.
