Messi 'tired' of being blamed for Barcelona's problems
In the wake of comments from teammate Antoine Griezmann's former agent, Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi says he's "tired" of being blamed for the club's problems.
Journalists spoke to Messi at the El Prat airport in Barcelona on Wednesday after his return from international duty, and the 33-year-old bristled at a question about Eric Olhats. The agent said Messi has led a "regime of terror" at Barcelona.
"I am tired of always being the problem with everything that goes on at this club," Messi answered, according to ESPN UK's Sam Marsden.
Olhats also accused Messi of failing to help Griezmann integrate properly with the Catalan giants after the latter moved from Atletico Madrid in July 2019.
Messi and Griezmann are understood to maintain a good relationship, and it's reportedly been years since the French international spoke with Olhats.
Messi's response will only spark more speculation that the Argentine star is set to leave Barcelona when his contract lapses in the summer.
Rumors swirled of a high-profile divorce between Messi and his employer of 20 years following the humiliating 8-2 Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich. The loss capped the club's first trophy-less season in over a decade.
The star's contract includes a clause that would have permitted him to leave Barcelona early if he expressed an intent to do so before May 31, 2020. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner's camp claimed the cutoff date should have been extended until Aug. 25 due to the ongoing pandemic and subsequent work stoppage.
Josep Maria Bartomeu, the then-Barcelona president, revealed the clause was null and void, and any interested party would need to trigger Messi's €700-million buyout clause.
In September, Messi said most of his issues lied with Bartomeu, who stepped down in October.
Victor Font, the favorite to succeed Bartomeu after the club's presidential election in January, is among many candidates who have publicly hitched their campaigns to Messi staying beyond the summer transfer window.