While Kerala debates the possibility of hosting Lionel Messi, former India international Anas Edathodika has urged the authorities to first focus on providing the facilities to develop local talents.

"Just like all of you, I wish for players like Ronaldo, Messi and Yamal to come here. But we also need international-standard football stadiums in Kerala to produce international stars from here," Edathodika said in Malappuram.

The popular centre-back was speaking at a sports discussion held on the sidelines of a public meeting organised by the Indian Union Muslim League's (IUML) Muslim Students Federation (MSF) at Vengara.

"So often, whatever I say becomes a controversy. But honestly, I just want the existing system to change," Edathodika said. Having played for many popular clubs in the country, including Kerala Blasters, Edathodika is aware of the ground reality.

"We are all football fans. There are so many talents in our state. But we don't have a single international-standard football stadium," Edathodika said. "Take a look at our Calicut stadium. Shops are built around it for associations to make money, but that is not with the aim of developing football.

"Even Kochi is not a football stadium, its a cricket stadium. Let them run shops, but also try to promote the game by having a museum to generate revenue. The fact is we have produced all the international stars without a proper football stadium."

To drive home his point, Edathodika drew a comparison with the nation of Uruguay, which is a footballing powerhouse despite being smaller than the district of Malappuram in terms of population. "If a country like Uruguay with just 30 lakh people can play in the World Cup, it is the failure of our system that our district, Malappuram, which has more than 40 lakh population, struggles to send a single player to the national team."

Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has repeatedly claimed that Messi and his World Cup-winning Argentine football team will play at least two international friendlies in the state this year. While the Argentine Football Association has yet to announce its men's team's schedule for the October-November window, the various stakeholders continue to make contrasting comments about the iconic footballer's potential visit to Kerala.

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