LIONEL MESSI was called a “possessed dwarf” by a rival coach in a leaked foul-mouthed rant.
Inter Miami faced Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions Cup last week.
Messi missed the game through injury as the Mexican side won the quarter-final first leg 2-1.
The Argentine legend watched from the stands but appeared in the tunnel after the game – where he had an altercation with Monterrey’s assistant boss Nico Sanchez.
Reports suggest an argument kicked-off as Inter Miami players approached the referee to protest decisions after they received six yellow cards and one red in the feisty clash.
Audio of Sanchez discussing the alleged incident has been leaked by Fox Sports Mexico.
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He said: “Messi wanted to fight with me, I don’t think he wanted to hit me because if he did he would’ve just hit me. He had me centimetres away and put his fist next to my face.
“I think he was looking for my reaction more than hitting me.
“When I’m at the door to the locker room I see Messi three meters from where I am. I approach him to ask for a photo, his security, in good spirit, stop me, and I notice Messi is heated.
“Right then, the referees were coming in, Messi gets in their face and tells them off.
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“Officials from CONCACAF where there and I told them, if we were to do that they’d kick us all out.
“When I say that, [Inter Miami manager] Tata Martino was going into the locker room turned around and started yelling at me and Messi appeared
“The dwarf was possessed, he had the face of the devil. He put his fist next to my face and says ‘who do you think you are?’
“But because I didn’t look at him, I was looking away, I never answered back, it made things worse.
“And Tata Martino, what a poor dummy, I had him in front of me telling me: ‘Fool, you going to cry? Fool you going to cry?’ What a dummy.
“All those videos, they probably erased them all because it leaves them looking bad. What they did was really serious.”
Since the audio was leaked, Sanchez has apologised but did not single out Messi.
He said: “Since I do not know the Inter coach, Tata Martino, I referred to him in a disrespectful manner and I apologise.
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“I am as Argentine as all of them and I will always defend my club. I’m here to show my face and take charge.”
Messi has returned to full fitness and is expected to play in the second leg on Thursday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
