January 12 – Lionel Messi has hit back at reports that he is unhappy at Barcelona and that he disagrees with coach Luis Enrique’s methods.
Messi, on the shortlist to win the world player of the year award for the fifth time tonight, insists he does not want to leave and says suggestions he demanded Enrique should be sacked are “lies”.
“I have no intentions of leaving for any team, not Chelsea nor Manchester City,” the Argentine striker said after inspiring Barca to a 3-1 win over champions Atletico Madrid. “I’m tired of all the things that people have been saying. I didn’t ask the club to fire anyone.”
“People make it out as if I run the club and that’s not how it is,” he added. “I don’t ask anyone to make decisions. Everything that has been said is lies and I want people to know that. Everything that has been said is false.
“People say these things because they want to cause us harm. It hurts because it came from Barca people. We must be united.”
“I am thankful to be able to give my version. It’s not good for people to look for rivalry between me and Luis Enrique because there isn’t any. I heard people say that my dad had spoken to Chelsea, to City. It’s all lies.”
The four-time Ballon d’Or winner said he can easily see why either of his fellow contenders, Cristiano Ronaldo and Manuel Neuer, might pip him for the annual award at FIFA’s glittering gala ceremony in Zurich.
“Whoever wins it will be deserved. Cristiano scored a lot of goals, and won the Champions League, and Neuer won the World Cup.”
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