Messi’s bathroom antics don’t make him a leader – Maradona

Legendary former Argentina superstar Diego Maradona has blasted Lionel Messi’s lack of leadership ability while claiming that there is no point in trying to turn him into a leader because he isn’t one.

Maradona used the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s pre-match antics as an example to serve his point, stating that a player that lets the nerves get to him to such an extent that he has to spend most of his time in the bathroom before a game can’t be turned into a leader.

'He does ask for it on the pitch, but before speaking to teammates he'll go and play the Playstation' Maradona said.

'For me, it's difficult to talk, but it's pointless wanting to make a man who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a match into the leader.”

The former Argentina manager then went to claim that he wouldn’t have called up the Barcelona captain to the Argentina squad but also admitted that nothing can ever be ruled out.

'Messi is Messi at Barcelona and Messi is Messi with Argentina. I wouldn't call up Messi, but never say never.”

Maradona wasn’t finished yet as he also claimed that the Barcelona maestro should be relieved from Argentina captaincy as it would take some pressure off him and let him play at his best.

'There's a need to take pressure off him. There's a need to take the leadership away from Messi, as we want him to be Messi, which he wouldn't be.'

This is not the first time that Maradona has spoken out against ‘La Pulga’. However, he also doesn’t shy away from praising the Barca star when the opportunity presents itself. It is just that the former Argentina captain is highly outspoken and is never afraid to openly say and do what he wants to.