“You see things you don’t expect” - When ex-Barcelona coach claimed Lionel Messi is ‘difficult to manage’ 

Former Barcelona coach Quique Setien once opened up about how Lionel Messi was difficult to manage. Setien took over as the Barca head coach in January 2020 but lasted only seven months.

The former Real Betis coach took over the helm after the club had sacked Ernesto Valverde. However, Barca's infamous 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the 2020 Champions League quarter-finals led the club to sack Setien.

During an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais in November 2020, Quique Setien shared his experience of coaching Lionel Messi at Barcelona:

"Leo is difficult to manage. Who am I to change him! If they have accepted him as he is for years and have not changed him. There's another facet beyond just the player, and it's more difficult to manage. Much more difficult."

Comparing Messi with NBA legend Michael Jordan, Setien noted:

"It's something inherent in many athletes that can be seen in the Michael Jordan documentary ("The Last Dance"). You see things you don't expect. He's very reserved but he makes you see the things that he wants. He doesn't talk much."

Under Quique Setien, Lionel Messi made 24 appearances for Barcelona registering 15 wins and five losses across competitions. He was suspended for one Copa del Rey game, which Barca won 2-1 over UB Ibiza. He registered 15 goals and 19 assists under Setien.

The 2019-20 season marked the Blaugrana's first trophyless campaign since 2007-08. The club also recorded their lowest total points in La Liga since 2007-08 at the time, with 82 points. However, the club would post even lower numbers in the league in their next two seasons - 79 (2020-21) and 73 (2021-22) respectively.

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Lionel Messi wanted to leave Barcelona after a disappointing 2019-20 season

Lionel Messi - Source: Getty

In August 2020, Lionel Messi sent a burofax to Barcelona mentioning that he would like to leave the club that season. His then contract was set to end in 2021.

The club's sources confirmed to Forbes that Messi's contract included an exit clause that enabled him to leave Barca for free in 2020. But that was applicable if his decision was communicated before June 10, 2020. Messi's burofax reportedly came after the aforementioned date, voiding the option.

Barcelona's sources claimed at that time that Lionel Messi was legally bound to serve the last season, per his contract. They also confirmed that Messi wasn't for sale, so any interested parties had to pay his reported $828 million release clause.

Amid a potential legal battle with his boyhood club, Messi eventually decided to stay at Barcelona. He explained his reasons for wanting to leave, in an interview (via beIN SPORTS):

"I wanted to go because I thought about living my last years of football happily. Lately I have not found happiness within the club. ... The truth is that there has been no project or anything for a long time. They juggle and cover holes as things go by."

Leo Messi eventually left Barcelona in 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. He then left the French side to move to MLS club Inter Miami in 2023.