Messi fires back at Barca sporting director Abidal after jibe

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Levante - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - February 2, 2020 Barcelona's Lionel Messi during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Albert Gea

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Lionel Messi criticised Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal on Tuesday for saying many in the squad were not working hard under former coach Ernesto Valverde.

Abidal and president Josep Maria Bartomeu sacked Valverde in January, replacing the coach with Quique Setien.