• Lionel Messi had a frustrating night as Barcelona were held by Alaves, their fourth La Liga game without a win. AP
    Lionel Messi had a frustrating night as Barcelona were held by Alaves, their fourth La Liga game without a win. AP
  • Messi wipes his face. AFP
    Messi wipes his face. AFP
  • Messi takes a tumble. AFP
    Messi takes a tumble. AFP
  • Messi and Gerard Pique leave the pitch at the end of the match. AP
    Messi and Gerard Pique leave the pitch at the end of the match. AP
  • Messi gestures after missing a chance. AP
    Messi gestures after missing a chance. AP
  • Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman walks on the touchline. AFP
    Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman walks on the touchline. AFP
  • Messi shoots against Alaves goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco. AFP
    Messi shoots against Alaves goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco. AFP
  • Messi battles with Alaves midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia. AFP
    Messi battles with Alaves midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia. AFP
  • Messi fails to score against Alaves goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco. AP
    Messi fails to score against Alaves goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco. AP
  • Lionel Messi looks unhappy during La Liga draw at Deportivo Alaves. AFP
    Lionel Messi looks unhappy during La Liga draw at Deportivo Alaves. AFP
  • Spanish defender Gerard Pique was another frustrated Barcelona player. AFP
    Spanish defender Gerard Pique was another frustrated Barcelona player. AFP
  • Barcelona midfielder Ansu Fati struggled to make an impact. AFP
    Barcelona midfielder Ansu Fati struggled to make an impact. AFP
  • Ronald Koeman, coach of Barcelona, had plenty to think about on the touchline. Getty
    Ronald Koeman, coach of Barcelona, had plenty to think about on the touchline. Getty
  • Alaves winger Luis Rioja goes past Barcelona's goalkeeper Neto to give his side the lead. EPA
    Alaves winger Luis Rioja goes past Barcelona's goalkeeper Neto to give his side the lead. EPA
  • Alaves midfielder Luis Rioja celebrates his goal. AFP
    Alaves midfielder Luis Rioja celebrates his goal. AFP
  • Antoine Griezmann celebrates with Lionel Messi after levelling the scores. Getty
    Antoine Griezmann celebrates with Lionel Messi after levelling the scores. Getty
  • Messi takes on Florian Lejeune and Victor Laguardia Cisneros. AFP
    Messi takes on Florian Lejeune and Victor Laguardia Cisneros. AFP

Lionel Messi 'tired of always being the problem for everything' at Barcelona


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Lionel Messi has said he is "tired of always being the problem for everything" at Barcelona after the Argentine superstar was accused Antoine Griezmann's former agent of making life difficult for the French striker at the club.

Eric Olhats has claimed Messi has too much control at Barcelona, saying his "reign of terror" had made it challenging for Griezmann to adapt since his arrival from Atletico Madrid last year.

Messi, 33, returned to Barcelona from international duty with Argentina on Wednesday when he was accosted by reporters at the airport.

"The truth is that I'm a little tired of always being the problem for everything at the club," Messi was quoted as saying by Spanish media.

"On top of that, after a 15-hour flight, I had the tax authorities waiting for me. It's madness."

With one year left on his contract, Messi tried to activate a disputed clause to leave Barcelona for free in the off-season, but eventually decided to stay as he did not want to face a legal battle with the club.

Barcelona have been in turmoil since Bayern Munich humiliated the Spanish side 8-2 in the Champions League quarter-finals last season. Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned last month ahead of a vote of no confidence.

Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann have been Barcelona teammates since the start of the 2019/20 season. Reuters
Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann have been Barcelona teammates since the start of the 2019/20 season. Reuters

Messi has also had his run-ins with the Spanish tax authorities in recent years.

He was handed a 21-month prison sentence in 2016 and ordered to pay a fine of €2 million ($2.37m) for defrauding the Spanish government of €4.2m over income earned from image rights.

However, Messi did not serve any jail time after exchanging his sentence for a €250,000 fine, as Spain defendants without a previous conviction are permitted to serve any sentence of under two years on probation.