Antoine Griezmann’s entourage has aimed another blow at Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi.
In Tuesday’s edition of France Football, there were testimonies against the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, with claims that he has a “deplorable” attitude towards the Frenchman and runs a "regime of terror" made by Eric Olhats, a former advisor to the World Cup winner.
READ MORE:
Koeman is right to be concerned about Lionel Messi's form
Setien told Messi: If you don't like what I say, there's the door
Further claims that Messi has made Griezmann’s life tough since he moved to the club from Atletico Madrid in 2019 have now been levelled in a documentary.
Emmanuel Lopez, Griezmann’s uncle explained on ‘Antoine Griezmann: itineraire d’un champion deracine’, broadcast on M6 in France: “I knew that it would be difficult to be a success in the first six months, but I didn’t think that it would last a year.
At Barcelona there’s not enough work and the training sessions are done to please certain players.Emmanuel Lopez
“What’s more, with Messi, what goes on behind the scenes, it’s not easy. There are things that I can’t speak about.
“Overall, at Barcelona there’s not enough work and the training sessions are done to please certain players. And Antoine needs to work to be good.”
Quique Setien on Lionel Messi
Lopez’s complaints echo those made by former Barcelona coach Quique Setien.
“Leo is difficult to manage. Who am I to change him if they have accepted him as he is for years and have not changed him,” the coach told El Pais.
“There’s another facet beyond just the player and it’s more difficult to manage. Much more difficult.
“It’s something inherent in many athletes that can be seen in the Michael Jordan documentary [The Last Dance]. You see things you don’t expect.
“He’s very reserved but he makes you see the things that he wants. He doesn’t talk much.”
Griezmann has failed to shine since moving to Barca, with a return of 17 goals in 57 matches in all competitions considered a major disappointment given that he netted at a rate of better than one every two games with Atletico.
His lack of understanding with Messi on the pitch has been cited as a major reason for it, and there is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that the pair’s relationship away from the field is even more complicated.
Antoine Griezmann 
Lionel Messi 
Barcelona 
Atletico Madrid 
