adminBarcelona star Lionel Messi and Manchester United’s Angel di Maria are at the centre of a huge controversy in Argentina after appearing to undermine their Argentina manager Tata Martino’s half-time team talk.
The pair covered their mouths as they laughed together coming out of the tunnel for the second half of their country’s first Copa America game against Paraguay.
The attacking players were then apparently heard laughing off either Martino, his staff, or their team-mates’ half-time suggestions that the match was not tied up, despite Argentina’s 2-0 half-time lead.
Messi is apparently heard saying: “What was said in the dressing room? Piece of cake?”
Di Maria then seems to rapidly respond: “That this is not an easy result.”
The Argentine press were desperate to find out what the talented pair had joked about and after scrutinising various forms of the footage believe to have discerned what was being said.
Argentine newspaper El Dia are just one of several major news organisations making the accusations against Messi and Di Maria.
The basis of the alleged joke seems to be that Di Maria and Messi found Martino (and/or others in the dressing room’s) belief that the game was not over funny, regardless of Messi’s 35th minute penalty giving Argentina a 2-0 lead going into the break.
However, if their comments are accurate they were ill-advised as Argentina threw away the 2-0 half-time lead to draw 2-2, with Paraguay’s Lucas Barrios netting an 89th minute equaliser.
Given that the pair appear to be so brazen about Argentina’s chances of holding onto the win, before having a hand in Argentina’s second-half capitulation, the supposed comments have made them seem disrespectful in their native land.
Being one of the favourites for the 2015 Ballon d’Or, and the country’s talisman, Messi’s place in the team seems safe in spite of the comments.
But given Di Maria’s comparatively poor season at Manchester United, his place could well be under threat with Roberto Pereyra, Erik Lamela and Ezequiel Lavezzi all desperate for a first-team spot. —Daily Mail
Online Reporter