‘What are you doing, idiot? Do you want to stop kicking me, a**hole?’: Lionel Messi’s x-rated rant revealed by opponent who had to get physical to stop Barcelona star in friendly clash
- Barcelona star Messi has endured a turbulent summer after asking for a move
- Argentine was less than impressed with Gimnastic midfielder Javier Ribelles
- Ribelles claimed Messi called him an ‘a**hole’ for fouling him during the match
Barcelona star Lionel Messi has endured a turbulent summer after asking for a move and then performing a dramatic U-turn when it became clear he couldn’t leave on a free transfer.
And the 33-year-old Argentine was less than impressed with the unwanted attention he received from Gimnastic de Tarragona midfielder Javier Ribelles on his return to action in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner didn’t get on the scoresheet in Barcelona’s 3-1 victory, but he did deliver an x-rated rant.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi has endured a turbulent summer following his transfer U-turn
Goal.com reported that according to Gimnastic midfielder Javier Ribelles, Messi called him an ‘a**hole’ for fouling him during the match.
‘What are you doing, idiot? Do you want to stop kicking me, a**hole?’ Messi said, according to Ribelles.
In an attempt to defuse the row, the Gimnastic player replied to Leo’s x-rated rant by saying: ‘It’s that if you’re the best I have to kick you, I can’t let you turn because you’re going to beat me.’
Messi was less than impressed with the unwanted attention he received in pre-season friendly
Gimnastic midfielder Javier Ribelles (right) said Messi called him an ‘a**hole’ for fouling him
Messi made his return for Barcelona for the first time since his dramatic transfer U-turn by playing 45 minutes of the Catalan club’s pre-season friendly win over Gimnastic de Tarragona.
The 33-year-old was named in the starting line-up by new manager Ronald Koeman as goals from Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann and Phillipe Coutinho secured the victory as they get set to embark on another season.
