JONJO SHELVEY could be lining up alongside Lionel Messi for Barcelona next season if he got his head down.
That is the claim of fellow Newcastle star Matt Ritchie – who has urged the midfielder to ditch his golf clubs and focus on football.
Ritchie claimed Shelvey has the ability to play for the likes of Barcelona, but his lack of discipline has held him back.
The six-cap England international has scored five goals in 17 appearances for Newcastle this season.
Barcelona are not likely to swoop for the 28-year-old this summer – which will be a huge relief for Steve Bruce.
But Ritchie has revealed he tells me him regularly that he could play for the Spanish giants “so easily” if he committed himself.
He told In The Box: “For me, I’ve said to him so many times, ‘If you just got your head down, focused solely on football and forgot about golf and whatever else…’
“It’s true, though, isn’t it? He’s mad.
“He’ll play golf three times a week, and I’m like, ‘Jonj, you can’t do that’.
“He’s like, ‘No, no, I feel better, Matty’. I’m like, ‘That’s impossible’.
“But what a player, what a player. I’ve been at Newcastle now for four years, and I’ve seen him inside a box [rondo] no more than 10 times.
“That’s how good he is – and we do boxes every day.
“This guy has the natural ability to just see passes, to receive the ball, to move the ball.”
NOU CAN DO IT
He added: “I remember playing against him as a kid. I think he was 14 – we were playing Charlton U16s at Portsmouth – and I think he scored a hat-trick. He was unbelievable.
“Obviously, he’s got his moves and he’s ended up at Newcastle. But I say to him very regular: ‘Jonj, if you had your head screwed on, you could play for Barcelona so easily.’
“He’s that good, isn’t he? He is, though. He’s that good.”
Barcelona will be looking to land some bargains this summer as the coronavirus crisis has left them strapped for cash.
The LaLiga side are prepared to sell nine players to fund a move for a big name this summer – but it’s not Shelvey.
Chelsea ‘close’ to sealing Philippe Coutinho transfer as agreement grows near with Barcelona amid interest from Arsenal
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
