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At Barcelona, I had the best players ever, and they helped me to be a successful manager.

The first time I met Leo Messi, I didn't know who he was, only that I couldn't believe the boots he was wearing. But he is like a brother to me. It was at the start of 2005, when I was with the Argentine under-17 squad and I saw him chatting with Ezequiel Garay and some other players about the boots he'd brought back from the U.S.A.

Growing up, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were the players I looked up to - and Carlos Tevez when he was at the club.

I knew nothing about football, then someone showed me a film of Petit and I realised how interesting the game could be. He is divine. When I met him I could barely speak, he was so gorgeous. Women will love that show.

There are good players, there are great players, and there are those few at the pinnacle - the Peles, Cruyffs and Maradonas.

When I went to Juventus, I was young, but in training, I had legends like Fabio Cannavaro and Lilian Thuram marking me. I had to work hard to get my respect.

When I arrived in Milan, I found myself surrounded by many fantastic footballers.

I was playing the best football of my career at the time, finishing top scorer in Italy three year's running. There were other good players around but I think I was the best at that time.

I was the classic midfield organiser who could also score goals.

Lionel Messi is awesome.