Former Barça goalkeeper opens up about tension between Messi and Luis Enrique in 2015

Barcelona’s term under Luis Enrique is fondly remembered due to the sheer success the team enjoyed during that period.

However, despite all of the team’s success, there were moments of tension and uncertainty, especially when it came to the team and the coaching staff.

In one such instance, Lionel Messi and Luis Enrique had quite the altercation back in 2015.

Jordi Masip opens up about Messi-Enrique tension
In a recent conversation with Cadena SER, former Barcelona goalkeeper Jordi Masip has pulled back the curtain on the rocky relationship between Lionel Messi and then-manager Luis Enrique during the 2014-15 season

The trouble began when Luis Enrique decided to rest Messi for a La Liga clash against Real Sociedad without discussing it with the Argentine superstar.

This didn’t go well with Messi, who, in response, skipped Barcelona’s traditional open-door training session on Three Kings’ Day, a move that infuriated Enrique.

Recalling the atmosphere between Messi and Enrique, Masip admitted that there was tension, though the situation didn’t go out of proportion.

“Luis Enrique and Messi didn’t come to blows, but there was tension. It was normal given the situation at the time,” he said.

Team captain Xavi Hernandez played a crucial role as peacemaker, stepping in to de-escalate the situation before it spiraled further.

Masip, though, was quick to point out that Barcelona did win a treble that season. “From there, the treble was won, so welcome,” he said.

For Masip, though, the chapter at Barcelona would end a couple of years later as he eventually left the club in 2017, in favour of a move to Real Valladolid.