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Lionel Messi takes fresh aim at Barcelona for ‘throwing out’ Luis Suárez

Lionel Messi has extended his feud with Barcelona’s hierarchy by openly criticising the way in which the club treated Luis Suárez following his departure to Atlético Madrid, claiming his former strike partner had been “thrown out” of the Camp Nou.

Messi made the claim on his Instagram account, adding that “nothing surprises me any more” in regards to the conduct of those in charge of Barcelona, primarily the president, Josep Maria Bartomeu. It was a somewhat astonishing attack given Messi is Barça’s captain, as well as most influential and iconic player, but also does not come as a great surprise given the fractured nature of his relationship with the club.

The Argentinian revealed his desire to leave Barcelona last month and appeared set for a blockbuster move to Manchester City only for the deal to fall flat after Messi decided to stay put in order to avoid a legal dispute. But the 33-year-old made clear at the time that he was not happy with the decision and, in an interview with Goal, accused Bartomeu of going back on an agreement to allow him to depart the Catalan giants. Exactly three weeks on, he clearly remains furious and frustrated with the president.

“You deserved a farewell befitting who you are: one of the most important players in the history of the club, achieving great things for the team and on an individual level,” Messi wrote in his Instagram post regarding Suárez’s move to Madrid. “You did not deserve for them to throw you out like they did. But the truth is that at this stage nothing surprises me any more.”

In January Messi also hit out at then sporting director Eric Abidal, while in March he took aim at Bartomeu and the club’s board for their handling of a pay cut.


Atlético de Madrid
(@atletienglish)

?⚪ #SuárezRojiblanco

? First day at the office for @LuisSuarez9! ??

? #AúpaAtleti pic.twitter.com/kLDZlQHDZ9

September 25, 2020

“It will be strange to see you in another shirt and even stranger to come up against you on the pitch,” he added on Instagram. “I had already begun to imagine it but today I went into the dressing room and it truly dawned on me. It’s going to be so difficult not to continue to share every day with you both on the pitch and away from it.”

Ronald Koeman had called Suárez several days after becoming Barcelona head coach to inform the Uruguayan, who had one year left on his contract with the club he joined from Liverpool for £75m in 2014, that he was no longer wanted. Bartomeu had also left Suárez off a list of players he considered not for sale in the aftermath of the 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League in August. Barça begin their La Liga campaign at home to Villarreal on Sunday.

Suárez himself paid tribute to Messi in his farewell news conference on Thursday, recalling that everyone had told him the player was difficult to get on with but declaring they had become best friends as well as prolific on-pitch partners.

“Leo knows what I think and I know what he thinks. We are old enough to give each other advice. Leo felt strange because I’m going to a direct rival, but nothing will change our relationship,” said a visibly emotional Suárez, who has cost Atlético £5.5m and signed a two-year deal with the club managed by his fellow South American Diego Simeone.

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