Lionel Messi has taken to Instagram to slam Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal over his comments while discussing Ernesto Valverde's sacking.
Valverde was sacked last month and Abidal had claimed in an interview to SPORT per Marca that it was down to players 'not giving all they could'.
However, club captain Messi has taken to social media to put down the Frenchman's claims.
Posting on his Instagram story, the 32-year-old said: "I honestly don't like to do these things but I think everyone has to be responsible for their tasks and take care of their decisions.
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"The players for what happens on the pitch, and we are also the first to acknowledge when we were not good.
"Those responsible for the area of sports management must also assume their responsibilities and above all take charge of the decisions they make.
"Finally, I think that when talking about players, we should give names because otherwise we are getting everyone dirty and feeding things that are said and are not true."
Messi is usually quiet when it comes to outside footballing matters so his outburst has come as a shock to many in the Spanish media.
Former Barca defender Abidal had said on Tuesday: "Many players were not satisfied or weren't working hard and there was also an internal communication issue.
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"The coach and dressing room relationship has always been good, but there are things that I can smell as a former player.
"I told the club what I thought and they had to make a decision."
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Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Ernesto Valverde
