"I'm very happy!" Murtaza exclaimed, grabbing the phone when a Sputnik Dari correspondent interviewed his father.
"We are joyed that Mr. Messi sent us such a gift, we received it. But we would like to meet Mister Messi in person, we are waiting for this," his father, Muhammad Arif, told Sputnik Dari.
کودک افغان اینبار با پیراهن واقعی و امضا شده مسی تمرین می کند.😃 pic.twitter.com/KNDyfzLOgx
— علی بی غم (@persian_gulf400) February 25, 2016
Arif added that he hopes his son would be able to use his new fame for training as a footballer.
"We would be glad if our son was able to play football professionally, he had a huge attraction to this sport from his early childhood. We dream that he, just like Messi, becomes a famous footballer and glorifies our family all over the world," Arif added.
مسی پیراهن امضا شده خود را برای مرتضی کودک افغانستانی فرستادhttps://t.co/iV4BL9lk3I pic.twitter.com/RY63tWHSB2
— jam news (@jamnewsir) February 25, 2016
He added that an education in Europe would benefit him, but only insofar as it lets him return to Afghanistan and play for his country.
"I would not object to my son moving to Europe, to get a decent education…perhaps one in football, why not? But then, he should return to his homeland. For example, if Mister Messi was able to take my son under his wing, teaching him, it would be a great joy for us," Arif said.