J.J. Watt has teased a possible loan move to Burnley for Lionel Messi after the World Cup winner missed out on qualifying for the MLS playoffs with Inter Miami, putting his club season to an end until February.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN on Wednesday, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year was asked by the former Colts punter if Burnley’s been any ‘good’ so far this season, and where the club lies in league standings.
Watt, who’s a Chelsea fan at heart, became a minority investor of the Clarets in May along with his wife, Kealia.
‘We can move on to the next topic,’ he said about Burnley’s current form. ‘We started off 1-0 [against Chelsea] and it was incredible, awesome. We were playing good and then Raheem Sterling just had a phenomenal game on the left wing. […] We lost 4-1.
‘We’re in the international break right now but we got a big game coming up against Brentford next week,’ the former Texans and Cardinals tight end added.
Then, McAfee asked when’s the next time Burnley is going to win again, referring to the club’s sole Premier League victory against Luton at the start of the month. Watt replied: ‘Next week, on Saturday, is what we’re looking at, man.
‘I’m considering flying over just for the game and then flying back. I have an inch to get out there, man.’
‘Yeah they need you too!’ joked McAfee. ‘Why don’t you bust your nose over there… why don’t you get a little bit of blood… why don’t you show them that thigh… why don’t you lift your pants and go bruise yourself over there, and let them know what it could be like…’ Once everyone on the show realized that Burnley’s in danger of getting relegated, as the Clarets currently occupy 18th place, then that’s when Messi’s name started being mentioned.
‘Get Messi. Dr. Ryan Reynolds knows how to do it,’ said one of the show’s panelist.
‘Yeah I gave him a call,’ quipped Watt. ‘Still waiting to hear back…’
McAfee and everyone else on the show, including Watt, himself, burst out laughing at the prospect of potentially seeing the Argentine play in Lancashire in January and beyond.
The Clarets have only collected four points off a possible 24 since being promoted to the Premier League in May. They finished first in the Championship last season.
Meanwhile, Messi has been linked with a return to Barcelona on loan while waiting for the 2023-24 MLS season to kick off in February. Miami missed out on an Eastern Conference playoff spot after a 1-0 loss to Cincinnati last week.
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