Lionel Messi tells coach Valverde to offload 5 players but presses for signature of Chelsea star

Lionel Messi (infront) trains with teammate Luis Suarez (at the back). [Photo: Courtesy]

After spending a good portion of his career at Barcelona and winning a number of trophies and individual owners, Lionel Messi is undoubtedly one of the most decorated players at Camp Nou.

Messi’s effect is seemingly not only being felt on the pitch, but the Argentine is already having a stake in determining the transfer of players for the Spanish giants.

According to the Spanish media outlet Dario Gol, Messi has become frustrated with 5 players in Barcelona’s senior squad and a result; he wants them out of the club soon.

The players who have been pin-pointed by the Argentine to be offloaded by Ernesto Valverde include midfielders Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez, striker Paco Alcacer, and defenders Aleix Vidal and Lucas Digne.

Andre Gomes was an important component of the first team squad at Valencia before moving to Catalunya, but he has been pushed down the pecking order from the time that Paulinho was signed from China.

Denis Suarez has suffered some moments of injury, and as it stands, he could be the closest of all to the squad. After managing six goals out of 17 appearances, Paco Alcacer is still out of favour at Camp Nou. He is also one of the players that Messi would want shipped out of the club.

Lucas Digne signed for Barcelona from the Ligue 1 outfit PSG but has failed to register an impact for the La Liga champions. Valverde has always preferred fielding Sergi Roberto on the right back position, hence leaving the Frenchman with minimal game time.

Signings such as Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool and Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund have scuttled the game time for players such as Alcacer and Denis Suarez leaving them with imminent exit.

Marcos Alonso allure

Meanwhile the Argentine has also called on the club hierarchy to consider signing Chelsea left-wing-back Marcos Alonso, who was recently called up to play for Spanish national team.

Reports indicate that Messi was impressed by the versatile defender after staging marvelous performance against Barcelona, despite the Blues losing 4-1 on aggregate.

Alonso has also been reported to be on the radar on Manchester United and French Ligue 1 giants PSG, who have been said to be planning to tempt Chelsea with mega offers. Former Fiorentina man has scored the most number of goals scored by a defender in a season (13).