Deco: If Lionel Messi played for Juventus, they would be the favourites

Deco: If Lionel Messi played for Juventus, they would be the favourites

"Barça are the favourites, but there are no invincible teams. In fact, if Messi played for Juventus, I think that they would be the favourite." These are words of Deco at an event for the betting company Sportium put on to analyse the Champions League final between FC Barcelona and Juventus. 

The former Barça player, who predicted a 2-0 win for Luis Enrique's side, considers the form of Messi the main area of importance ahead of the final. He also dismissed Giorgio Chiellini's claim that Messi could not score the goal he scored in the Copa del Rey final against an Italian defence. 

"Messi could have scored the same goal in Italy, Germany and any other place. He is pure quality," he continued. "I don't they could mark him [better] in another country. He always has a solution for everything and it is difficult to stop him.

"I am happy [he has recovered his form]. He is a friend and I have seen him grow and now he is happy playing again. He had problems like any other normal person, but now things are coming off and we are all enjoying [watching him play]."

As for his analysis of the Champions League final, Deco spoke about the dangers of Juve. "They won't mind if they have to defend for 90 minutes," he explained. "What Barça have to do is have the ball for the most time possible and be careful of counter attacks. 

"If they play like they have been playing and they have the ball, they will win. Maybe this Barça does not have as much possession as [Josep] Guardiola's, but they are much more lethal up front. They don't just think about having the ball, but how to be direct when they need to be."

In this sense, he praised the work of Luis Suarez and Neymar, who form the trident alongside Messi. "Suarez is a great player and is doing some great stuff, while Neymar continues to grow little by little and even though he is not yet at the level of Messi or Cristiano [Ronaldo], he has the quality to get there."