Messi: 'Barcelona has got very strong with the signings'

Aug 8, 2007, 18:07 GMT

Barcelona - Barcelona's Argentine striker Lionel Messi on Wednesday praised the club's efforts in this summer's transfer market, and admitted that Barcelona 'has got very strong' with its signings.

'The team has strengthened itself in all positions and it has got very strong. Those who have arrived are great players,' Messi said.

Barcelona signed France superstar Thierry Henry, Eric Abidal, Yaya Toure and Gabriel Milito over the summer.

Messi will have huge competition this season, since he will have to fight for a place in the starting lineup with Henry, Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and up-and-coming Mexican youngster Giovani Dos Santos, 18, the star of Barcelona's pre-season training.

The Argentine stressed that the choice is up to coach Frank Rijkaard, and noted that 'he has to decide who to field.'

Messi only returned to the club discipline on Tuesday, after losing the final of the Copa America with Argentina to rivals Brazil last month.

On Wednesday, Messi arrived at the Camp Nou for training two hours late, since heavy morning rain caused a flood at his home.

Messi, 20, himself a product of Barcelona's youth teams, greeted the emergence of more young talent in the boots of Dos Santos or the Spaniard of Serbian descent Bojan Krkic.

'I am not surprised at the youngsters' level because I had seen them before,' the Argentine noted.

Dos Santos recently spoke of Messi as 'a model to follow.'

'I am glad he says that. It is good that many more players come out of the youth schemes and that the kids remain confident that thay can make it (to the first team),' Messi said.