Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has torn into the club over their handling of the Lionel Messi contract situation, which resulted in the forward attempting to leave in the close-season.
The criticism comes on the eve of the first clasico against Real Madrid this season and days after the 33-year-old Pique signed a new three-year deal at Barca.
Club president Josep Bartomeu was the target of a scathing interview by Messi, who ultimately ended up staying at the Camp Nou, however the relationship between the two seems irreparable, something that has left Pique astounded.
"I ask myself: How can it be that the best-ever player to have played the game, who we have been lucky enough to enjoy, wakes up one day and sends a Burofax [recorded delivery mail] because he feels like he's not being listened to?" Pique told La Vanguardia newspaper.
"It's all too confrontational. What's going on? Messi deserves everything; the new stadium should be named after him first and then the sponsor. We should preserve our figureheads, not underappreciate them. It really gets to me."
The 33-year-old Spaniard kept his distance when the situation between Messi and the club emerged last summer. “I didn't have much contact with him at that time. It was a personal thing to him. I remember sending him a message: ‘It’s only been a year, then new people will come.’”
Pique also expressed his frustration that other club icons are not still connected with the club.
“I am surprised that people such as Josep Guardiola, Xavi, Carles Puyol and Víctor Valdes are no longer active for the club. You must always keep them. They are part of club history."
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Messi's 10 best goals for Barca
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Messi's best goals ... 10. Lionel Messi scores the second goal during the Champions League Final against Manchester United at the Stadio Olimpico in 2009. Getty -
9. Messi scores winning goal against Estudiantes in extra time of the Club World Cup Final at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi in 2009. Stephen Lock / The National -
8. Messi fires an incredible free kick to score during La Liga match against Celta Vigo at Camp Nou in 2016. AFP -
7. Messi's flick and finish against Arsenal during the Champions League round of 16 second leg match at Camp Nou stadium in 2011 was breathtaking. Getty -
6. A nutmeg and a delightful chipped finish against Sevilla in 2012 made this the sixth favourite goal of Messi's 630 for Barcelona. AFP -
5. Messi made defenders fall over before chipping Bayern's Manuel Neuer during the first leg of the Champions League semifinal match in 2015. Getty -
4. An incredible mazy run and finish against Zaragoza in 2010. AFP -
3. Taking on and beating the entire Real Madrid defence in the Champions League semi-final at the Bernabeu in 2011 will underline your popularity with Barca fans. Though possibly not with Real supporters. Getty -
2. Messi on his way to another spellbinding finish and the opening goal of the Copa del Rey Final against Bilbao in 2015. Getty -
1, Voted the fans' favourite, Messi basically took on the whole Getafe team in the Copa del Rey in 2007, and won. Incredibly, he started the run by beating two players while still in his own half. Getty
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The defender also addressed media reports that Bartomeu knew the club hired a social media agency to criticise the players earlier this year. Bartomeu has denied the allegations.
"I, as a Barca player, see that my club have spent money, money they're now asking us for [in salary reductions], to criticise us – and I'm not talking about criticising people outside the club, but current players – it's atrocious.
"I asked [Bartomeu] for an explanation and he said 'Gerard, I didn't know about it', and I believed him. But then you see that the person [Jaume Masferre, an adviser to Bartomeu] who was responsible for doing this is still working at the club. That hurts me a lot. And I'm saying that here because I've already said it to the president, too."
After a painful stand-off, Messi eventually decided he would stay on as he wanted to avoid a "legal war" with the club, but not without a stinging rebuke of Bartomeu .
"I wasn't happy and I wanted to leave. I have not been allowed this in any way and I will stay at the club so as not to get into a legal dispute," he said.
"The management of the club led by Bartomeu is a disaster.
"I told the club, the president in particular, that I wanted to leave. They knew this since the start of the past season. I told them during all [of the] last 12 months. But I will stay here because I don't want to start a legal war."
