Enrique slams bust-up reports with Messi
Print Edition
BARCELONA coach Luis Enrique has described reports of a bust-up with Lionel Messi as “inaccurate and ill-intentioned” and said he has the backing of all the players in his squad.
Talk has been rife of disagreements and heated exchanges between the pair while rumors of a move to Chelsea have grown with Catalan radio saying the London club has contacted the players’ father and agent Jorge. RAC1 radio claimed Premier League leader Chelsea would be prepared to pay Messi’s US$295.80 million buyout clause.
“I have the same relationship with all the players since the start of the season. Obviously we know each other better now but there is no change in the relationship,” Enrique told a news conference yesterday ahead of today’s Cop del Rey last 16 clash with Elche.
“I feel I have the support of the club and the players. I have no doubt about that. I continue my work with the same professionalism as before and I am not here to deny stories.
“I am not going to comment about all the different media reports about what has supposed to have taken place. There are so many varied reports which are inaccurate and ill intentioned,” added the coach.
Messi and Enrique were reported to have had heated arguments in training last Friday and again after Sunday’s defeat at Real Sociedad, where Messi was unhappy about being left out of the starting lineup. Enrique felt the player was not ready to start, having only returned to training on Friday following his Christmas break.
On Monday, Messi then failed to attend a training session open to the public and a hospital visit to see sick children due to illness.
The fact that on the same day he started following Chelsea on Instagram was interpreted as another indication of his state of mind. “Messi is the best player in the world. I have said it so many times that there is no point repeating it,” added Enrique.
Messi has developed from an innocent teenager at Barcelona who was simply happy to play the game to a calculating senior professional who knows his value to the club. The four-time World Player of the Year is believed to be unhappy with the no-nonsense style of Enrique and his tactics this season.
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