The Bianconeri forward informed the Portugal star that there is no love for him in the South American country.
Paulo Dybala says that he told Juventus team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo he is not a very famous figure in Argentina, as Lionel Messi’s homeland “hates” the Portuguese star.
The sporting rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo has seen each raise their status as two of the biggest to ever play the game.
Clashes between Messi’s Barcelona and Ronaldo’s Real Madrid have been amongst the most anticipated and liked in soccer history, with each players apparently elevating their games in an effort to best the other.
Ronaldo moved to Juventus in 2018, ending the on-field rivalry in La Liga, however the debate nonetheless continues as to which of the two have to be counted as his rival’s better.
Now a team-mate of Ronaldo in Turin, Argentinian international Dybala admitted to the Portuguese star that his country has no love for him, even if he has since learned that forward is a person worthwhile of admiration.
“I said to him, ‘Cristiano, in Argentina, we hate you a bit due to the fact of your figure, because of how you are, of how you walk’,” Dybala stated in an interview with the Argentinian Football Association.
“‘The reality is that you have surprised me because I’ve discovered you to be different.'”
Dybala is one of the few stars to have played alongside each Ronaldo and Messi, giving the forward a special insight into two of the biggest to ever play the game.
However, the Juventus superstar came under fire last year when he stated that he found it hard to play alongside Messi with Argentina.
With each Messi and Dybala playing a comparable position, the Juventus star has stated he has struggled to combine with the Barcelona legend.
Dybala says he has since talked tactics with Messi as the two have looked to find an understanding of how they fit collectively positionally.
“I’ve never intended to criticise a teammate, I really wanted to improve some thing that was happening,” Dybala said.
“I spoke about it with Leo because we’re both very similar tactically.
“I did not have many minutes at the World Cup or the Copa America but, at the same time, I always respected the choices of the coaches because Argentina is very prestigious.”
Dybala was recently diagnosed with coronavirus and, after recovering from the illness, admitted he was “scared” in the days after testing positive.
