Messi vs Luis Enrique: Lightning before the storm

Messi is not satisfied with the way coach Enrique uses people.

Messi skipped training earlier this week after coach Enrique benched him for the match against Sociedad, a clear sign that the Argentine star was upset with his coach.

This is not the first time Messi has skipped training to express his attitude. In 2011, the Argentine star also skipped training after being benched by coach Guardiola at Sociedad's Anoeta stadium. Considering the stature of Messi and Enrique at Barca at the moment, the current coach is in an extremely difficult situation.

"You'd better start warming up," Neymar told Messi after Barca conceded a second-minute goal against Sociedad. But when Enrique brought Messi on in the second half, the striker showed no signs of being ready to save the team as he usually did, playing indifferently. The next day, Messi failed to show up for training and Barca announced he had a "stomach problem".

Skipping training and following Chelsea on social media is not something a star considered the soul of Barca can do casually. Messi understands that every little action of his will be reported by the media and put invisible pressure on the Barca Board of Directors as well as Enrique.

Messi's sadness will make many people at Barca worried. Photo: AFP

Last summer, Messi's two close friends, goalkeeper Pinto and midfielder Cesc Fabregas, left the Nou Camp. Messi's loneliness will make any conflict with the leaders an excuse for him to consider leaving.

Luis Enrique was very unhappy when Messi skipped training and called for an investigation. However, when President Josep Maria Bartomeu intervened, the Barca coach's attitude turned around. The coach spoke on Wednesday denying all the rumors and praising Messi as "the best player in the world".

All the factors are against Enrique at the moment. He does not have the stature of Pep Guardiola, having only brought to Barca an unfinished career at Roma and Celta Vigo. Meanwhile, Messi is on the way to becoming the greatest player in Barca's history after contributing to 21 titles in 11 seasons. Messi is La Liga's top scorer, Barca's all-time leading scorer and the biggest hope for many years.

With a transfer ban in place for the next year, Barca must keep Messi at all costs. If their biggest player leaves, it could lead to a major exodus from other stars. The two blockbuster contracts Neymar and Suarez were brought in to reduce the possibility of dependence on Messi but have never shown that they can replace the Argentine star.

Luis Enrique may be wrong to try to limit Messi directly.

The turmoil has forced Barca to hold a presidential election a year early at the end of this season. Former president Joan Laporta is a strong candidate, as he has been widely promoted recently. Laporta is the one who opened the golden era of Barca, including bringing Messi into the first team. The Catalan lawyer also does not hide his ambition to bring Guardiola back to the Nou Camp.

On the outside, Luis Enrique is also losing support from the fans. Inconsistent form, big signing Suarez scoring poorly and constantly changing the lineup have caused the 44-year-old coach's ability to be constantly questioned.

If there was a battle at the Nou Camp, Messi would have won the first game against Enrique. It is not even difficult to predict that the 27-year-old would have the last laugh in this match that was unequal from the start.

According to VNE