Jamie Carragher has hilariously revealed that Lionel Messi called him a 'donkey' in a furious private message following Monday Night Football criticism.
Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain last summer in a transfer window that saw Cristiano Ronaldo return to Manchester United.
On MNF, the Liverpool legend played down both blockbuster moves - saying he wasn't convinced by either signings.
Well, after Carragher snubbed Messi of a spot in his team of the year, he made a brilliant confession to Gary Neville and Dave Jones on Friday Night Football.
Below is the amusing exchange between Carragher, Neville and Jones following Norwich's 3-0 victory over Watford.
Carragher: "No Messi. We had that debate at the start of the season, Ronaldo or Messi?
"I was the Messi man. He [Neville] was Ronaldo, but unfortunately, even though he’s..."
Neville: "He’s not happy with you is he, Messi?"
Carragher: "No, he’s not happy with me at all."
Neville: "Why?"
Carragher: "I had a little pop at Ronaldo early in the season. I didn’t think it was a great signing for United. And I said the example of Messi. I didn’t think Messi was a great signing for PSG..."
Jones: "That was on Monday Night Football wasn’t it?"
Carragher: "Yeah, it was on Monday Night Football and I got a private message on Instagram..."
Jones: "From the man himself?"
Carragher: "From the man himself. I will not be showing private messages, but he basically called me a donkey."
Jones: "So he watches his football then?"
Carragher: “He watches Monday Night Football, so hopefully he’s watching Friday Night Football as well, because Lionel I absolutely love you. The greatest player of all time – and compared to you, I was a donkey, I accept that. But you’re not getting into this team.
"You haven’t played well enough, even if you did win the Copa America in the summer. It’s not enough to leave my man out, Mo Salah."
Instead of Messi, Carragher opted for Mohamed Salah who has been ultra-prolific this year.
The Liverpool superstar joined Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe in attack.
Kevin De Bruyne, N'Golo Kante and Marco Verratti were selected in midfield.
Carragher also named Gianluigi Donnarumma, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ruben Dias, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Spinazzola.
Topics: Lionel Messi, Jamie Carragher, Football, Gary Neville
Nasir Jabbar