Pep Guardiola's 'sex rules' helped Lionel Messi avoid muscle injuries at Barcelona

Pep Guardiola reportedly introduced rules regarding players' sex lives in order to prevent muscle injuries for the likes of Lionel Messi.

Guardiola is notorious for his meticulous attention to detail in preparation for matches, and that seemingly extends to the bedroom.

According to Samir Nasri, who played under Guardiola at Manchester City, the former Barcelona boss told his squad that they should have sex before midnight.

Guardiola allegedly believed that the curfew would mean his players would still get a good night's sleep, and players were under strict instructions to not break the rule even if there was not a game the following day.

Nasri explained that the likes Messi benefitted from the ban as the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's 'muscles improved'.

“For him, his players’ sexual activity must take place before midnight in order to get a good night sleep – even if they are free tomorrow," Nasri told L'Equipe du Soir, via the Daily Star.

“He [Guardiola] said that he placed this rule on Messi and his muscles improved since.

“He told us this is how he managed to get the best out of [Robert] Lewandowski too and for them to avoid the maximum number of muscular injuries.

Messi is currently sidelined for his new club Inter Miami du to injury and may want to remember Guardiola's rather unusual technique to keeping fit.

Providing an update on Messi's injury ahead of the US Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo, Inter Miami boss Gerardo "Tata" Martino told reporters: “It’s very difficult to give him a percentage because we have to take it day by day.

"We’ll continue to evaluate him and, as I always say, I will listen to him first and see how he’s feeling. Then we’ll also need to evaluate future risks. It’s not an easy decision, but we’re going to take the right amount of time to try to not make a mistake.”

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