Lionel Messi was not afraid to voice his true feelings after announcing his decision to remain at Barcelona for the 2020-21 campaign earlier this month.
The legendary Argentine forward wanted to leave Camp Nou but reluctantly decided to stay because he didn’t want to drag the club through a court battle.
Messi insisted he would still give his all for Barça this season - but made it crystal clear that he wasn’t happy with how the club was being run under president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
The 33-year-old is also angry with the treatment of Luis Suarez, one of his closest friends, who joined Atletico Madrid after six years as a Barcelona player this week.
Messi posted a farewell message to Suarez via Instagram on Friday morning and hit out at the club for their decision to unceremoniously dump the Uruguayan forward.
“I had already begun to imagine it but today I went into the dressing room and it truly dawned on me. It's going to be so difficult to not continue to share every day with you both on the pitches and away from them,” Messi wrote.
“We're going to miss you so much. We spent many years together, many lunches and many dinners. So many things we will never forget, all the time we spent together.
“It will be strange to see you in another shirt and much more to come up against you on the pitch. You deserved a farewell that fit with who you are: one of the most important players in the history of the club. Someone who achieved great things for the team and on an individual level.
“You did not deserve for them to throw you out like they did. But the truth is that at this stage nothing surprises me anymore.
Messi’s post has been liked by the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Sergio Aguero.
Neymar, meanwhile, responded by saying: “Incredible how they do things”.
The Brazilian, who left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, remains close friends with Messi and Suarez to this day.
And now Suarez himself has responded to Messi’s heartfelt message (the translation might be a little sketchy, but you get the idea).
“Thank you friend for your words but more thanks for being who you are, for what you were from the first day with me and my family. I will always be grateful to the human Leo Messi, the funny and the sentiment, because everyone knows the player...
“.. Do not forget what I told you 'I continued enjoying and showing that you are the ONE' and that 2, 3 or 4 do not cloud how giant you are for the club and for the world of football…
“… love you very much friend and we are going to MISS you, all 5 of us!”
It’s unclear who the ‘2, 3 or 4’ are that Suarez refers to in his message. Bartomeu and other Barça board members, perhaps?
In any case, it’s clear from today’s messages that Messi still isn’t happy at Barcelona, despite his ’U-turn’.
The chances of him signing a contract extension at Camp Nou - at this stage, at least - appear to be extremely slim.