Lionel Messi is fully justified to air his grievances with Barcelona according to his former Nou Camp teammate Dani Alves.
The Barca icon gave an emotional post-match interview after the club's 2-1 home defeat to Osasuna on Thursday, the night that Real Madrid clinched their 34th La Liga title with a 2-1 home win over Villarreal.
Messi questioned the attitude and character of his teammates at the club, and cited the Champions League collapses against Roma in 2018 and Liverpool in 2019 as key examples of their failings.
The Argentinean also questioned whether or not his side will be good enough to beat Napoli in their rearranged Champions League last-16 tie next month, and Alves says he was right to question those around him.
“Leo is a natural winner. He doesn't like losing," the Brazilian told Catalunya Radio's 'Tot Gira', via Goal.com.
“When the team loses, it’s normal he gets angry, he always wants to win. Just like me. We always want to win.
“He's been doing what he does for so long, he knows when a team gives one thing and when it gives another. That's why he says what works and what doesn't because he knows.
“He's spent so many years at Barca, experienced so many things, and he knows exactly what the team needs to win.
“He sees, what I feel, a lack of support."
Alves added that Messi needs is only a mere mortal and shouldn't be asked to carry underperforming teammates all the time.
“I'll always say that Messi is the main course and we were the perfect ingredients for that plate," he continued.
"Now I have the feeling that he's doing everything, all the time, and we must remember he's only human.”
