“I warned Hansi Flick about that particular player, he refused to bench him and He lost the game Vs Real Betis that could have given them 5 points on top the league… Flick is making the same mistake now, I’m warning him also”: Former Barcelona Star Lionel Messi names ONE player who doesn’t deserve to start for Barcelona warned Hansi Flick about the unforgivable mistake.

“I Warned Hansi Flick About That Particular Player” – Lionel Messi Names One Barcelona Star Who Shouldn’t Be Starting, Blames Him for Costly Real Betis Defeat

In a shocking and brutally honest revelation, Lionel Messi has spoken out against Barcelona’s current tactical setup under new manager Hansi Flick, claiming he previously warned the German tactician about a specific player who, in his eyes, doesn’t deserve to be in the starting eleven. According to Messi, this warning was ignored, and it cost Barcelona dearly in their recent defeat to Real Betis — a match that could have sent them five points clear at the top of the La Liga table.

The Argentine icon, who rarely criticizes individuals publicly, didn’t mince his words this time. “I warned Hansi Flick about that particular player,” Messi said during an interview with a Spanish media outlet. “He refused to bench him, and he lost the game vs Real Betis — a game that could’ve changed everything. Barcelona should have been five points clear, comfortably sitting at the top of the league. But instead, we’re chasing shadows.”

Although Messi didn’t directly name the player in his initial comment, sources close to the club and the dressing room suggest that the criticism is aimed at a senior member of the squad whose recent performances have come under intense scrutiny. Many believe it’s a thinly-veiled shot at a high-profile midfielder who has struggled to maintain consistency and whose presence on the pitch has disrupted the team’s rhythm and defensive structure.

This isn’t the first time Flick has been accused of stubbornness in his lineup choices. While the German manager has enjoyed a relatively smooth start to life at the Camp Nou, the cracks are beginning to show. Tactical decisions, substitutions, and an apparent reluctance to rotate key players have started to draw criticism — not just from fans and pundits, but now, from one of the greatest players in the club’s history.

Messi, who knows the culture and the expectations of Barcelona more than almost anyone, continued his critique. “Flick is making the same mistake again,” he warned. “I’m telling him now — for the good of the team, he has to make tough choices. There’s no room for sentiment or blind loyalty when the title is at stake.”

The defeat to Real Betis was not only damaging in terms of points, but also exposed several tactical flaws in Flick’s system. The team looked disjointed in midfield, slow to recover on transitions, and alarmingly open at the back — all issues Messi believes stem from one key weak link in the starting eleven.

Fans have taken to social media to dissect Messi’s comments, with many applauding his honesty and echoing his concerns. The identity of the player, while still officially unnamed, has become the subject of heated debates across fan forums and sports shows. Some suggest it’s a lingering issue from Xavi’s era that Flick has failed to resolve, while others argue it’s a case of Messi attempting to exert influence from afar.

Whatever the truth, one thing is clear: Lionel Messi’s warning carries significant weight. When the club’s most legendary figure publicly criticizes the current regime and calls out individual mistakes, it sends a loud message to everyone involved.

Will Hansi Flick listen this time, or will history repeat itself?

With the season entering a crucial phase and rivals breathing down Barcelona’s neck, the decisions made in the next few weeks could determine whether the club ends the campaign as champions — or left ruing the mistakes they were warned about.