Beijing: Lionel Messi wanted Maradona to stay on as Argentina coach and is looking forward to playing in the same club side as Spain's Cesc Fabregas one day, the Barcelona forward said Thursday.
The World Player of the Year was part of the Argentina squad that Maradona led to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in South Africa a month ago before the former captain was let go by the Argentine FA last week.
"I certainly did not want him to leave, I hoped he would stay," Messi told a news conference ahead of the Spanish champions' pre-season friendly against Beijing Guoan tomorrow.
"But this is football. There are always many uncertainties."
Messi also made his feelings plain about Barcelona transfer target Fabregas, who is reported to be angling for a move away from Arsenal and back to his home city.
"I'm very much looking forward to playing with Fabregas as part of the same team one day," he said.
Barcelona face the Chinese champions in the Bird's Nest stadium tomorrow, two years after the opening ceremony kicked off the Beijing Olympics. The 23-year-old has good memories of the stadium having won Olympic gold with the Argentina under-23 team two years ago.
