As he reflected on his first few months at Camp Nou, Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite has described Lionel Messi as “inspiration”.
The 29-year-old was a surprise signing in February after Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele sustained injuries and left Barcelona short on attackers. While three goals are yet to be made for the club, Braithwaite contributed two assists to his debut as he gets used to playing with the Catalans.
Messi is one player with whom the Dane hasn’t struggled to mesh as he noted that the Argentina legend has already started to develop his game.
“Naturally it’s changing a lot. He gives the team so much confidence because he can make a difference, and he has also personally helped me to be a better player with his advice and how he sees football,” Braithwaite told Goal when asked about his opinion on Messi now he’s playing alongside him.
Signed in the wake of an injury to Suarez, Braithwaite may now struggle for minutes when this week’s Liga season resumes with the Uruguayan star now fully fit again, but instead of despairing about his likely limited role at Camp Nou, the Danish international is eager to learn from Suarez.
Braithwaite has found things quite different on the training ground at Camp Nou after playing for the likes of Leganes, Middlesbrough, and Toulouse beforehand.
A year ago, many would have laughed at Braithwaite ‘s prospect of being a Barcelona player, but the fact that it happened persuades the man himself that no dream should be deemed too difficult to reach as he hopes his time at the club will show his grandchildren anything is possible.
He said: “I just want to remind them that anything is possible in life. You can fulfill your dreams if you place your mind within it.”
