ANTOINE GRIEZMANN’s uncle has taken a subtle dig at Lionel Messi by claiming Barcelona training sessions are designed to make him look good.
Frenchman Griezmann has failed to settle at the Nou Camp since his £108million move from Atletico Madrid in 2019.
Antoine Griezmann’s uncle aimed a subtle dig at Lionel Messi about Barcelona’s training sessionsCredit: EPA
There are rumours of a dressing-room rift between the 29-year-old and Barca’s main man Messi.
Griezmann’s uncle has done nothing to quash those murmurs by saying Messi doesn’t work hard enough.
Spanish outlet AS claim he told El Chiringuito de Jugones: “Griezmann was convinced that he wasn’t going to be successful within the first six months, but what I didn’t expect was that [his struggles] would last an entire year.
“Besides, with Messi, I know what’s going on inside – it’s not easy.
“Basically, [Messi] doesn’t work hard enough at Barca and the training sessions are structured in order to please certain people, which is fine if you don’t want to work.
“Antoine needs to work, even though others don’t need as much effort to play well. He’s the other way around – he needs to put in a lot of effort for himself.”
But Croatian playmaker Ivan Rakitic insisted his team-mates ‘get along very well’.
Rumours persist that Messi and Griezmann have not seen eye to eye since the Frenchman arrived last summerCredit: Getty Images
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He told radio programme El Pelotazo on Canal Sur: “From what I could see they got along very well. I got along wonderfully with Antoine and Leo. What there is, I don’t know.
“It’s a bit like everything.
“If you win every game 5-0, we can all laugh. If not, many things are sought.
“But they are two spectacular boys. I have met Antoine, he is a spectacular boy and there should be no problem.”
Griezmann’s former agent weighed in on the debate this week and did not hold back as he blasted Messi’s ‘reign of terror’.
Eric Olhats said: “Antoine arrived at a club where Messi has the final word on everything.
“He is as much an emperor as a monarch and he didn’t take kindly to the signing of Antoine.
“His attitude has been deplorable and he made him feel unwelcome.
“I’ve always disliked hearing Griezmann say that there are no issues with Messi but never the other way around.
“It’s a reign of terror. You’re either with him or against him.”
Watch Messi and his kids play football with HUGE pet dog Hulk as wife Antonela drinks Barcelona star’s special beer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
