Lionel Messi has finally issued a response to Antoine Griezmann's uncle and former adviser over claims that he is partly to blame for the Frenchman's struggles at Barcelona. The 33-year-old Argentine playmaker has stated that he is "tired of always being everyone's problem" following the criticisms that were laid his way last week.
Griezmann, having completed a £108 million transfer to Barcelona in 2019, has struggled to settle at the Camp Nou. In the early days of his arrival speculations, which were subsequently refuted, suggested that the player was not particularly on good terms with Lionel Messi. It was believed that the reason for this was because the latter was against the signing of the former Atletico Madrid man.
While that phase has passed, Griezmann ill-fortune at Camp Nou is yet to vanish. In La Liga alone, the Frenchman has scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 42 appearances. Last week, the French striker's uncle Emmanuel Lopes and ex-adviser Eric Olhats, all jumped to his defence over his performance at Barca. The pair criticized Lionel Messi and named him as one to blame for the World Cup winner's non-accomplishment at the club. Olhat, in his interview with France Football, even described the Barca talisman as "an emperor and a monarch" at the club.
Having starred in Argentina's World Cup qualifiers, the Barcelona skipper returned to the club on Wednesday and was met at the airport by a host of reporters. Pressed for a response on the criticisms he has been subjected to, the 33-year-old forward who was also being sought by tax inspector seeking documentation said: "I'm tired of always being everyone's problem at the club.
"I get here after a 15-hour flight and I find a tax agent here, it's ridiculous."
Messi al llegar a Barcelona. " la verdad es que estoy un poco cansado de ser el problema de todo en el club cuando le preguntan por el entorno de Griezmann pic.twitter.com/79nqhvCadu
— Alfredo Martínez (@Alfremartinezz) November 18, 2020
On Saturday, Barcelona will take on Atletico Madrid in La Liga and Messi is expected to be in action for the Catalans.
