As the days have progressed since Ronald Koeman's rather heavily publicised conversation with Lionel Messi, it has emerged that Barcelona fans have every reason to be worried about the Argentine leaving, however the Dutch coach is rumoured to have said something in particular which irked the iconic forward.
Whilst this was more a case of a new coach touching base with his captain rather than any sort of exit-talk summit, the results have been revealing.
According to Deportes Cuatro, it was a meeting of incredible tension and Messi himself was left surprised by the stance the former Southampton coach took.
There was one particular phrase the report has cited which is said to have left Messi somewhat furious.
"The privileges in this squad are over, you have to do everything for the team," Koeman reportedly declared.
"I'm going to be inflexible; you must only be thinking about the team."
It was such a show of authoritarianism that Messi took exception to, especially with his relationships with coaches at Barcelona having generally not been that way throughout his career.
What has followed is even further disruption to the idea that Messi will sign a contract extension at the Camp Nou, with several of his close friends and team-mates being told they can leave.
Luis Suarez is the most significant, with the relationship between the two South American forwards known to be extremely good, however he is also likely to be irked by the same message being given to Arturo Vidal.
PaoloMessi
966
Welcome to Manchester City 💙
Razes10
714
Koeman has contacted Bartomeu to tell him that he should look for a new club.🇳🇵
Spartacusbarrie
580
we can not keep two of them at the same time it will only continue the damages for us one most go,, and that is suarez please fans let understand that Ronaldino come and go, so' will be Messi,, he is good ,,but he will never be more than the club, if he insists to leave no problem he has done more than enough for us we will love him forever but in order to Buil the team some guys most go the the like of Vidal Suarez Rakitic Umtiti,, are all skillful and good players but they are very lazy due to the age we called for changes so be it,,one love for Barca
fizzbizzie
192
he said right.. finally a coach that wants to put his stance and do it his way and play like Barcelona and not messilona and he doesn't like that ?he should learn to adapt to the team and not the team adapt to him all the time.. managers have been unable to do right cos they have to play the Messilona way..
putbciln
129
barcelona is not messi, if he wants to leave let him go, bcz one day messi will retire but barcelona will continue running as a team. so if the guy wants to go, let him. he has done so much for the club like other legendary who are not with the team. the team need fresh blood who can be priminded wen they re done something wrong and except wrong doing, we dont want players who doesnt want to b told wat to do. let him , he will alway at our heart. has done much just like wat inesta and xavi and many other players did.