That's the problem with Superstars like Ronaldo and Messi, they appear to have more power than the managers.
And that’s one reason I can’t take a lot of ‘sports media’ seriously.
I think I read a Messi interview somewhere where he spoke about the claims about having all this power at Barca. He’s something like the fall guy for any cock ups happening within the club. As he’s not the most vocal guy, the rhetoric sticks.
It is what it is anyway. The headlines attract clicks.