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Lionel Messi: Marco Verratti takes aim at Barcelona star while making Real Madrid claim
LIONEL MESSI deserves to be punished for taking issue with referees' decisions during Barcelona matches.
Messi scores sensational goals in Barcelona training
At least that’s what Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti has claimed while claiming officials should have been more lenient with him against Real Madrid earlier this month.
Verratti has taken flak at times for failing to control his fiery temperament, a characteristic which sometimes overshadows his quality.
And that happened once again as PSG were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage by Zinedine Zidane’s reigning champions Real.
Verratti was sent off in the second-half of the second leg of that tie when PSG were chasing the game at the Parc des Princes.
Verratti has discussed his own disciplinary problems against Real and taken a swipe at Barcelona ace Messi in the process.
"I was wrong with Real, but it's a frustrating red, sometimes the referees could be more tolerant," Verrati told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I had a rough reaction, but I did not insult anyone, while Messi protesting pointing his finger at the referee did not even come punished, but I have to improve."
Marco Verratti was sent off when Paris Saint-Germain faced Real Madrid in the Champions League
Verratti gets SENT OFF after second yellow card against Madrid
Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti has taken aim at Barcelona ace Lionel Messi
Verratti also referenced Messi while speaking about Neymar’s metatarsal injury, which forced the Brazilian to miss PSG’s home defeat to Real.
"It's like taking Messi out of Barcelona, they're players who make 30 per cent of a team," he added.
"We're lucky to have him with us, they've paid so much because he’s a phenomenon."
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