Former Barcelona winger Carles Rexach has claimed that Lionel Messi “ate more pizza than he should have last year.”
The Argentine endured a disappointing 2013-14 by his lofty standards due to a mix of injuries and poor form, resulting in a trophyless campaign for La Blaugrana, but the club legend – now an advisor to the board – felt the No 10’s eating habits were partly to blame.
“Before, [Messi] would eat then rest, but I think he ate more pizza than he should have last year,” he told Regio7.
“Luis Enrique imposed too many rules at the beginning [of his reign] – if you don’t train, you don’t play.
“Let’s see what happens when Messi doesn’t train and needs him.”
Rexach, who also coached Barca during the 2001-02 season, then took aim at the transfer policy employed by Barca’s arch-rivals Real Madrid.
“[Florentino Perez] only looks at the global market and wants a team of Galacticos,” he added.
“[Vicente] Del Bosque and [Angel] Di Maria are too ugly for Madrid.”
