Barcelona board must pamper Messi or risk losing him, says legend Stoichkov

Hmmm, Thegaolmac has learned that former Barcelona star Hristo Stoichkov has criticised the club for their treatment of Lionel Messi and warned the Argentina international could leave if he is not "protected and pampered". Who agrees with him? Continue for what he said.

The 27-year-old has endured a frosty relationship with the club's board in recent months and was kept out of the starting line-up for the defeat to Real Sociedad on Sunday by coach Luis Enrique after being granted an extended Christmas break.

Stoichkov believes the club must do their utmost to make the player feel at home again at Camp Nou in order to keep him until the end of his career.

"The problems Messi has encountered all came from within the club. There's been talks about fines, contract talks, advertising issues..." Stoichkov told Onda Cero.

"You have to protect and pamper the best player in the world. Messi should finish his career at Barcelona and nowhere else. The club should look after him and pamper him.

"Tell me the name of one foreign player who did not leave the club through the back door in the end..."