LIONEL MESSI is angry with Barcelona team-mate Samuel Umtiti, it has been claimed.
According to Diario Gol, Messi believes Umtiti is focused more on the speculation surrounding his future than performing on the pitch.
The Barcelona superstar blew his top after being forced to rescue the team from defeat at Sevilla on Saturday.
Messi – on the bench for the trip to Andalusia due to injury – came on as a second-half substitute with Sevilla leading 2-0.
He levelled the scores at the death, less than a minute after Luis Suarez had pulled one goal back.
The result ensured Barcelona remain unbeaten in La Liga and on course to secure the treble.
According to Diario Gol, Messi has warned his team-mates that now is not the time to lose their focus and concentration.
It is claimed that Messi believes central defender Umtiti, in particular, has performed poorly in recent weeks.
The France international is in the firing line because he has reportedly become distracted by contract negotiations with Nou Camp chiefs.
They are reluctant to meet his personal terms and Manchester United have been linked with a swoop.
Umtiti is currently available for £52.6million (€60m) due to a release clause in his contract.
Discussing the option, he said: “My clause isn’t that high, everyone knows it.
“It’s something that concerns me, but I don’t particularly care about it right now.”
Source:www.express.co.uk