‘Messi covers up problems at Barcelona’

Former Brazilian striker Malcom believes Lionel Messi is hiding the problems of the Catalan club, but insists the Argentine is not the only one at Camp Nou to make sure the club remains “big” even in difficult times.

The La Liga giant is going through a difficult time at the moment, as the 2019/20 season has not gone as planned.

Barcelona reacted to the situation by changing the coach – dismissed Ernesto Valverden, who won the La Liga title twice in a row, to bring Quique Setien. Meanwhile, Real Madrid have taken the Catalans to the top of the Spanish elite league table.

Shortly after Valverde’s dismissal, Messi and his future were in the spotlight for the Argentine star’s public feud with Barcelona’s sporting director Eric Abidal.

Abidal had suggested that some players had not worked hard enough before Ernesto Valverde’s dismissal in January, with Messi criticizing him, raising doubts about his future at the Camp Nou.

However, Malcom, who left Barcelona in the summer of 2019 and moved to Zenit, believes Messi’s presence in the squad helps Barcelona conceal their problems.

“Does Messi help Barcelona hide their problems? But some of them. But along with Leo are Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann, Ivan Rakitic, Frenkie De Jong, Arthur Melo, Arturo Vidal … many other players. It’s not just Leo, it’s the whole group,” Malcom said.

“Leo is the best player in the world. Sometimes he does crazy things and helps Barcelona a lot. That’s why when people talk about Barcelona, ??they talk about Leo. It’s normal when you consider all the things he does.”

“Barcelona have great players. They can be quiet because everyone who plays is a good player and there are only great players there. In Barcelona, ??the players come and go, but Barcelona does not change because the system is the same. Barcelona will always be a great club.”