Troubled relationship: Messi and Luis Enrique will have a reunion in PSG vs Inter Miami at the World Cup
O duelo entre PSG e Inter Miami , on Sunday (29), at 1 PM (Brazil Time), in the round of sixteen FIFA Club World Cup , it is much more than a game. It is the stage for the reunion between Lionel Messi and coach Luis Enrique, key figures in one of the most victorious and tumultuous relationships in recent Barcelona history, marked by ego conflicts, a divided dressing room, and an unforgettable glory.
Messi at the bank and the 'scheme' at training
It all began at the beginning of 2015. In a match against Real Sociedad, Luis Enrique dared to leave Messi on the bench, alleging that the star was the last to return from holidays. The decision did not go well and became the spark for a crisis. In an interview, former Barcelona defender Adriano confirmed the behind-the-scenes events.
— Ele [Luis Enrique] had a conflict with Messi during a training session. We tried to keep it under wraps, but it ended up getting out (to the press), there was no way around it — recalled Adriano, explaining that the argument started over a "trivial" matter: a foul not called by the coach during training. — Messi is very competitive, he didn't like losing, not at all.
The situation became so tense that, according to Adriano, in the following games, every time the coach went to give instructions on the sidelines, the entire stadium would shout "Messi! Messi!". According to rumors from the time, the Argentine star is said to have pushed for the coach's departure. Years later, Luis Enrique himself admitted to the tension.
— It wasn't something I sought after. But it happened, I needed to deal with it. And, to be honest, I can only speak well of Messi — said the coach to Catalunya Ràdio.
The details of the conflict came to light through more than one former teammate. French defender Jérémy Mathieu, in an interview with RMC, revealed that the fight started during a training session over a foul not called on Messi. According to him, the argument was "ugly" and even involved one of Luis Enrique's assistants, Joaquín Valdés, which forced the coach to try to "put out the fire" with a private conversation with the number 10 in the locker room.
Mascherano's role
With Real Madrid dominating the championship and the dressing room split, the players themselves had to intervene. "So we gathered in the locker room and said to each other: 'Either we change this dynamic, or we make a pact of peace, like Israel and Palestine, to ease the situation,'" Adriano recalled.
According to reports from the Spanish press at the time, a character was fundamental in sealing the peace: Javier Mascherano. The Argentine midfielder would have acted as a bridge between Messi and Luis Enrique, helping to calm the tempers. Ironically, today Mascherano is Messi's coach at Inter Miami and will be on the opposite side of the field from Luis Enrique.
Reunion in a new world
Despite sparks off-field, the partnership worked. With the MSN trio (Messi, Suárez, and Neymar) in top form, Barcelona won the Treble (Champions, La Liga, and Copa del Rey) in 2015.
Now, the reunion takes place at a different moment. Messi, at 38 years old, is the star of a project in MLS, while Luis performs well at PSG. On paper, the French team is the favorite, but Inter Miami has Messi, and history shows how seriously the Argentine takes reunions.
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