The Serie A giants are being charged with the task of attempting to include the Argentine in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 showdown.
Lionel Messi cannot be stopped, admits Napoli boss Gennaro Gattuso, together with the Barcelona celebrity capable of doing things that”you only see on a PlayStation”.
While talking up the apparent qualities of the Argentine ahead, Gattuso has been charged with the task of trying to contain them.
La Liga giants Barca are expected in Naples on Tuesday for the first leg of an eagerly-anticipated Champions League last-16 experience.
Messi will be expected to lead the charge for the visitors in the environment once graced by his fellow countryman Diego Maradona.
Napoli need no reminding of what they’re up against, together with the toughest of challenges confronting the Serie A outfit.
Their supervisor concedes as much, with former Italy global Gattuso telling reporters: “You can not stop Messi, but in such moments my players need to try.
“We’re playing against Barcelona, not only Messi. It does not make sense to have a participant man-mark Messi. We’ll try out some things and then we will see.”
Napoli have won six of their last seven games across all contests and will play host to Barcelona in buoyant mood.
Gattuso, however, knows that the exploits of six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi could leave his side chasing shadows.
“I read that we must man-mark Messi, but it is not only him,” added the ex-AC Milan celebrity.
“Lorenzo [Insigne] has stated that he is a wonderful player, he is not just great in a footballing level. He’s the greatest for how he’s lived his career. He is an example for the children to follow, never says anything improper.
“He does things that you only see on a PlayStation, things you can not even imagine. He has been the best ever for many years now.
“We are up against a wonderful team composed of great players. We know it’s going to be hard but for myself and my squad it is a source of pride to face a team that are more powerful than us who, over the past 10, 15 years, are among the greatest teams in the world.
“We should not have any fear.”
Messi has talked up the focus being put on Champions League victory by people at Camp Nou this year, with five years having passed since Barcelona last defeated Europe.
