FC Barcelona have sacked director Pere Gratacos after he made critical comments about superstar Lionel Messi.
Gratacos, the director of training and education for the club and a key figure in the youth system at Camp Nou, said on Friday that the Argentine international wouldn't be as good without his FC Barcelona teammates.
"Barcelona are not here only because of Messi," Gratacos said at the draw for Spain's Copa del Rey quarter finals.
"He's very important but it was the team who won [against Athletic Bilbao in the last 16]. Without Neymar, Luis Suarez, [Andres] Iniesta, [Gerard] Pique and the others, he wouldn't be such a good player."
Barcelona have taken swift action since the comments, relieving Gratacos from his position and stressed that they "do not coincide with those of the club".
He will continue to oversee the club's youth academy.
Newshub.
