Lionel Messi is a more rounded player at Barcelona than he would have been had he played for Real Madrid, according to Argentina's 1978 FIFA World Cup-winning manager, Cesar Luis Menotti.
Per FOX Sports (via Marca), Menotti believes that the Argentina international benefitted in ways that his Real Madrid counterpart, Cristiano Ronaldo, did not because he started his senior career playing alongside Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Ronaldinho:
"Messi wouldn't have been the same player at Real Madrid, he debuted with Iniesta, Xavi and Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo never had that type of training, Messi's evolution has been enormous from being a goalscoring forward to someone who directs play.