Lionel Messi Wants Current FC Barcelona Coach To Leave, Names Replacement: Report

Lionel Messi reportedly is unhappy with current FC Barcelona coach Quique Setien and wants the club to sack him after the current season ends.

Even though Barca are on the top of the La Liga table, they have not been in the best of their forms. On many occasions, Messi and goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen have rescued the side. Despite the recent lows, the fans and players have backed Setien more than their previous coach, Ernesto Valverde, who was sacked earlier in the ongoing season.

In the past years, several players have shown keen interest in joining the Catalan side but it is not the case anymore. There have been rumors that not many players are willing to leave their current clubs for Barca and Messi has expressed his disappointment with the current internal crisis.

It is understood that Barca management has no knowledge of what the coach needs right now, while Messi has insisted that the former Real Betis boss does not have the required tactics and hence must leave Barca in summer.

According to a Spanish news report, the Barca captain has recommended River Plate’s renowned manager Marcelo Gallardo. After Valverde was sacked, Gallardo was considered one of the choices as Valverde’s replacement. However, Gallardo had preferred to remain in South America.

Earlier, there were several reports that had stated Messi could leave Barcelona at the end of 2019-20 season. However, Barca’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu recently confirmed that the Argentine will retire at Nou Camp.

“Messi is the best player in the world. There's no need to explain anything -- I have done so many times in the past. Messi will continue at Barca and Messi will retire at Barca. I don't have the belief that he's feeling alone [at the club]. I know many people have said that but I don't think it's the case,” Bartomeu said at an event Thursday when asked to explain Messi’s contract position.