Despite netting 23 goals and providing 16 assists in all competitions for Blaugrana this season, his compatriot feels Messi is not a phenomenon anymore.
The 75-year-old also accused Messi for walking more on the pitch now than he used to and insists he does not care if these comments about the 32-year-old receive a backlash.
“I don't care if they criticize me in Argentina,” he told El Chiringuito.
“I'm very Argentinian and Messi is a phenomenon, but he's not a phenomenon now”
“They treat him wrong because they big him up and big him up and treat him wrong. He gets used to it and walks more on the pitch. He has to be better.”
“Cristiano [Ronaldo] and him are the two best.”
“Messi has to be better, he's got used to playing at a weary rhythm, walking and those that know football think the same. Take off, kid. You have to play well.
“When there's a player like Messi, like it was with Maradona and Pele, and his teammates always give the ball to him to win the game.”
“They spoil the team and they don't put everything they have into it.”
“The team get used to giving him the ball and not anyone else.”
Messi is considered as one of the best footballers of all-time, having won the Ballon d’Or a record six times, one ahead of his rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
