Messi steps foot in Maradona's Temple as Barça prepare for Napoli

Messi steps foot in Maradona's Temple as Barça prepare for Napoli

 Messi pisó por primera vez el estadio del Nápoles en el entrenamiento del equipo / | Samuel Marsden

The No.10 has never played a competitive game for Barça at the San Paolo

Lionel Messi has now stepped foot inside the Temple of Diego Maradona, the San Paolo, where the ex-Argentine forward spent six successful years as a player. It was a moment immortalised by passage of photographers and television cameras. 

Hundreds of journalists were waiting for Messi to arrive at Napoli's stadium and he was the last of the Barça players to head out for training on Monday. 

He did so seriously, focused and aware of the importance of the occasions. He also did so very naturally. He then joined up with his teammates, where he shared a joke with Gerard Pique. 

Messi's arrival in Naples has been highly anticipated. It's the first time he's been there for an official game with Barça and the Maradona comparisons have been non-stop. 

Barça were training ahead of Tuesday's Champions League game against Napoli, the first leg of their last 16 tie. 

Martin Braithwaite also trained with his teammates although he won't be able to play in Europe as he he signed after the deadline for registering new players. 

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