"Messi, Ronaldo too old and too expensive for our team"

The Sporting Director of German Bundesliga leaders, RB Leipzig, Ralf Rangnick says world-leading pair Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo “wouldn’t work” at the club due to their age and the expense that they require.


Rangnick said Messi and Ronaldo are both too old to be added to his surprise team.

Leipzig are unbeaten this season and are three points clear of second-place Bayern Munich after 13 matches, although the average age of their squad is just 23.

Rangnick has overseen the reshaping of the squad since arriving in 2012, when asked if he would want 29-year-old Barcelona’s Messi, or Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo, 31, he told AP, adding that: “It would be absurd to think that it could work with them here.

“They are both too old and too expensive.”

Leipzig was founded in 2009 and has earned four promotions in seven years, and eight of the players who started Saturday’s 2-1 win over Schalke played for them in the second tier last season.

Rangnick, who joined the club when they were in the fourth division, has overseen the signing of young talent, including club captain Dominik Kaiser, Scotland winger Oliver Burke, 19, Guinea midfielder Naby Keita, 21, and Brazilian defender Bernardo, 21.