Lionel Messi Reveals How Former Barcelona Manager Changed His Position After Promoting Him into the First Team

• Former Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has disclosed that Frank Rijkaard changed his position when he promoted him to the first team
• The Argentine played as a second striker at his first club Newell's Old Boys before he was made a right winger by the Dutch manager
• Lionel Messi left Barcelona last summer to join French giants Paris Saint Germain after 16 years with the Catalan giants

Lionel Messi has revealed how he was converted from a second striker to a right winger by former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard.

The Argentine was promoted to the first team by the Dutch manager but had to change his position because his natural role was occupied by Ronaldinho.

Messi, who started his career with Newell's Old Boys as a second striker disclosed he was excited to be part of the first team and did not bother about the changes.

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"Rijkaard played me on the right, which was a completely new position for me. I’d never played there before. I had to start off on that side, and I slowly got used to it," he said as quoted by tribuna.com.

"I was delighted, because I was playing. I slowly grew fond of that position. I got used to it quickly actually, because playing on my opposite foot meant I could bring it onto my strong foot when I went inside, and it was easy for me to cut in and have a view of the pitch ahead of me.

"At that time, we played with [Ludovic] Giuly, Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho, and then I began to come into the side. Later on, I began to be used much more, and it was more common to see inverted wingers."

Messi went on to build a legendary status at the Catalan club before leaving last season for Paris Saint Germain. The 34-year-old scored 474 goals in 520 games for Barcelona.

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Lionel Messi has reflected on his first season at PSG

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Lionel Messi has reflected on his maiden season with French outfit Paris Saint-Germain.

The 34-year-old attacker joined the Ligue 1 champions last summer after bringing an end to his over two-decade relationship with FC Barcelona.

Messi's fairy tale arrival in Paris ended with none of the fanfare romantics fans of the club would have hoped for, finishing the campaign with 11 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for PSG.