Hugo Sanchez: Messi lacks leadership

Much of the discourse following Barcelona's 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich has been about how the club and the current regime headed by Josep Maria Bartomeu have failed Lionel Messi, yet former Mexican forward Hugo Sanchez has claimed that the Argentine forward lacks leadership.

Messi was unable to turn Los Cules' fortunes around in Lisbon, with reports following the match which suggested that he may well be looking to leave the club.

"There are many doubts in Barcelona due to the lack of leadership from the president and even Messi himself," Sanchez explained to ESPN.

"Messi is a leader but not to the degree that he makes fundamental sporting decisions.

"He doesn't select the team or the players who are brought in, the president will be the one who will replace those over 30 years old, and even Busquets can leave."

Inter and Manchester City have been linked with a move for Messi this summer, although logistically and financially this seems unlikely, a view which Sanchez shares.

"There is no guarantee that Messi will continue next season, but if a team wants to take him then they have to pay 700 million euros, which is his buyout clause," he confirmed.

"If Messi holds out for another year, he will surely leave.

"Obviously people want to surround themselves with others they have confidence in and Neymar is one such player for Messi, and there is much talk that Griezmann could be a bargaining chip with PSG to make an exchange for him, but that's just speculation."