Messi branded ‘hormonal dwarf’ and ‘sewer rat’ by former Barcelona official

Robin Bairner

• 12 Jan 2023 12:02 GMT
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi was the subject of an incredible attack from top Barcelona officials in a private WhatsApp group, with a leading figure at the club calling him a “hormonal dwarf” and a “sewer rat”.

Messi, who left Barcelona to sign for PSG in 2021 following the expiration of his contract, had huge power around Camp Nou at that time, and the leaked messages reveal to what extent there was animosity between him and the club.

He was not the only player targeted, though, with Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets also subject to the ire of the former directors in a series of texts published by Sport.

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The messages date from 31 January, 2021, when all had already left the club – but this was also the day that El Mundo published the leak of Messi’s contract, which caused tremendous animosity towards the Bartomeu administration as it showed the Argentine could earn up over €555 million over four seasons and was the biggest in sport.

Roman Gomez Ponti, who was head of Barcelona’s legal services, was particularly furious. He wrote:

“Barto, really, you can't be such a good person with this sewer rat. The club has given him everything and he has dedicated himself to marking a dictatorship of signings, transfers, renewals, patros (sponsors) just for him.

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“I will never be able to do it, but Pinto, the contract renewal of Luis Suarez, and that of Jordi Alba, or the renewal commission for Ansu Fati (Rodrigo Messi, agent?) should be added to the figures of his contract?

“And above all the accumulation of blackmail and rudeness that the club and those of us who work have suffered from this hormonal dwarf who owes Barca his life.

“But when things go wrong [during the pandemic] you receive the mythical WhatsApp: “President, lower the salaries of others, but don't touch Luis and me.’”

Bartomeu defended his actions, stating that “we listened to Leo many times, not always, but many times, and this contract without a pandemic was totally acceptable... It was correct taking into account everything he generates.”

When Messi’s deal expired in 2021, Barcelona were unable to offer him terms due to their financial position and he departed to join PSG.