Former Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb revealed the shocking reason Barcelona sold Ronaldinho and Deco in 2008.
Hleb claimed Barcelona sold those two legendary players in 2008 just to protect Lionel Messi as both players often turned up in training drunk.
Hleb revealed this while he was having a conversation with Voka TV in 2019. He said, “Ronaldinho and Deco came to training drunk. That’s why Ronaldinho and Deco were sold in 2008. Because they were afraid that they would bring down Lionel Messi.”
Deco and Ronaldinho were prominent players in the Barcelona squad before they were sold to Chelsea and AC Milan, respectively.
They won the La Liga title twice and also won the 2005–06 Champions League finals against Arsenal.
Deco scored 20 goals and created 45 assists in 161 appearances for the Catalonia, while Ronaldinho scored 94 goals and created 71 assists in 207 games.
Ronaldinho wore the famous No. 10 during his tenure at Barcelona. Lionel Messi inherited the jersey and proceeded to become one of the greatest academy players the club had ever produced over the years.
Lionel Messi left Barcelona as the club’s all-time highest goal scorer, with 672 goals in 778 appearances in all competitions.
How Lionel Messi Thrives Under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona
When Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was promoted to the Barcelona first team, he claimed Ronaldinho and Deco were not among his plans.
Lionel Messi was the focal point of the Barcelona attack, and he gladly repaid the faith the manager put in him.
Messi scored 16 goals and provided 16 assists in 40 matches before Pep Guardiola’s first tenure as manager.
It was impressive stats for the youngster, whose performance was something the spectators hadn’t seen for ages.
In the 2008–09 season, when Pep Guardiola was made the manager, Lionel Messi scored 38 goals and created 19 assists in 51 appearances, leading the club to winning the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, and the La Liga title.
In the 2009–10 season, Lionel Messi’s goal tally increased to 47 goals. He created 12 assists in 53 appearances for the team. Messi led Barcelona to a La Liga title and a Round of 16 finish in the Copa del Rey.
In addition, Messi helped the Barcelona side win the Spanish Super Cup, a semi-final finish in the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Lionel Messi’s goal tally in Barcelona during the 2010–11 season was 53 goals. Also, he created 27 assists in 55 matches in all competitions.
The Barcelona team won yet another treble in the 2010–11 season. In addition, Messi won the Ballon d’Or for his individual brilliance in helping Barcelona succeed.
In Pep Guardiola’s last season at Barcelona, Lionel Messi scored 73 goals in 60 games. Pep Guardiola announced he would be leaving the club at the end of the 2011–12 season after Barcelona lost to Chelsea in the Champions League semi finals.
Despite the fact that Pep Guardiola left the club at the end of the season, Barcelona won the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, the UEFA Sper Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
What do you think about Alexander Hleb’s revelation? Air your views in the comments section.
