Messi could leave ‘through back door’

Barcelona legend Hristo Stoichkov claims Lionel Messi could leave Camp Nou "through the back door" if the Spanish giants are not careful.

Luis Enrique’s call to give both Messi and Neymar an extended break over winter has been criticised by the Bulgarian — who scored 84 La Liga goals in 177 games for Barcelona — on Spanish radio station Onda Cero.

He said: “They have not known how to look after Messi. Tell me any foreign player who has not ended up leaving Barca through the back door. Messi and Neymar are not the guilty parties, but those who gave them holidays.