Spanish giants Barcelona are in crisis after their talismanic captain Lionel Messi hit out at the club’s sporting director, Eric Abidal, for accusing the players of not working hard enough under former coach Ernesto Valverde.

Valverde was sacked in January despite Barcelona being at the top of La Liga then and having found a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. He was replaced by former Real Betis coach Quique Setien.

FC Barcelona sporting director, Eric Abidal Shutterstock

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has called a meeting with Abidal to discuss the sporting director’s future at the club following his public spat with the Argentine superstar.

Abidal, who is a former Barcelona teammate of Messi, made the comments in an interview with Spanish newspaper Diario Sport. He said the players “were not satisfied nor worked hard” under Valverde, adding that he thought there was an “internal communication issue”.

“The coach-dressing room relationship has always been good, but there are things I can smell as an ex-player. I told the club what I thought and a decision had to be made,” said Abidal, the former France, Lyon and Barca defender.

Messi, who rarely uses his social media platforms for venting his opinions, reacted angrily to Abidal’s comments.

“Sincerely, I don’t like to do these things but I think that people have to be responsible for their jobs and own their decisions.

“The players (are responsible) for what happens on the pitch and we are the first to admit when we haven’t been good. The heads of the sports department have to take their responsibilities too and above all own the decisions they make,” six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi wrote on Instagram.

“When you talk about players, you have to give names because if not, it gives air to things which are not true.”

In his interview with Diario Sport, Abidal also said he thought Messi was happy at the club and a new contract for the Argentine talisman was currently being negotiated. Messi though reportedly has a clause in his contract which would allow him to walk away from the club at the end of the season.

Barcelona are currently second in La Liga, three points behind rivals Real Madrid, but long-term injuries to Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele have left the Catalan powerhouse short of forward options.