Barcelona demotes club official for questioning Messi's talent

Don't say a word about Lionel Messi.

Barcelona stripped a club official of some of his duties Friday as a result of recent comments aimed at the Argentine superstar.

Pere Gratacos reportedly suggested following Friday's Copa del Rey draw that Messi's overall game would suffer without the help of his teammates.

"Leo is one of the most important people in the team, but it's not just about him," said Gratacos, according to Reuters' Adriana Garcia. "He would not be as good without (Andres) Iniesta, Neymar, and company, but Messi is the best."

Barcelona explained in a statement it didn't appreciate Gratacos' opinion, which the club said did not reflect its own.

A former Barcelona B player, Gratacos will no longer serve as Barcelona's head of sporting relations to the Spanish football federation. He will, however, continue to work with La Masia.

His remarks came at a delicate time for both Messi and the team he has represented his entire professional career.

With just 18 months remaining on the Argentine's contract, the topic of an extension has dominated Spanish headlines.

Although the Blaugrana have already tied Luis Suarez and Neymar to long-term deals, Messi is still stuck in the negotiation process.

Scoring 26 goals so far in all competitions, the 29-year-old remains at the height of his powers.

But the threat he could leave Barcelona intensified over the past year. Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have both been linked with a mega-million-euro move for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.