whipper said:
How very professional of him,should'nt the club captain be the spokesman for the players.
Messi missed the practice, due to what the club called a gastroenteritis. But that's not the entire story. According to sources, Messi didn't show up to training because he can't stand coach Luis Enrique anymore. Since Lucho arrived, the relationship between the boss and the club's biggest star was never good. Leo was reportedly disappointed with Enrique's tactical change that made Messi less of a goalscorer and more of a facilitator. As the best player in the world, Messi has been flawless in his new role on the team, but he's doing it to be professional, not because he wants it, sources say.
Things have gotten worse between the two after the El Clásico loss to Real Madrid, a game in which Messi definitely underperformed. Since that game, Leo has been unstoppable, but he's not happy at all this season. In the eyes of a few players in the locker room, Enrique hasn't given Messi the same freedom Leo had before. One source said: "it seems like Lucho is trying to force his authority down Leo's troath".
According to the reports, the locker room is divided. Captains like Xavi and Andrés Iniesta have tried to make peace between coaches and players, but there's a substantial portion of the locker room that has backed Messi on the issue, including Neymar Jr., who is reportedly having some problems of his own with Enrique.
Shame were not allowed to meet his release clause now! Good time to be playing them though.