'We weren't great friends' - ex-Barcelona star Rafa Marquez reveals bust-up with Lionel Messi that Pep Guardiola had to break up

The Mexican defender explained that he grew frustrated at Messi's continual dribbling in training. Marquez continued to suggest that he had lost his temper and had a go at the Argentine who was a considered a youngster at the time - an argument ensued and boss at the time, Guardiola, had to step in.

Speaking to Yordi Rosada, Marquez revealed: "We knew that Leo could dribble to three or four players, but sometimes exaggerated it a lot. We tried to direct it, saying to him: 'Here you dribble, here you don't'.

"By my strong insistence in these instructions, started a problem between Messi and I. We began to exchange words and Guardiola had to intervene to solve the problem. Messi and I were not big friends, we were colleagues."

Marquez holds a joint record for appearing at the most World Cup tournaments having played in five tournaments from 2002-2018. A record tied with his ex-teammate, Messi.

Marquez is the current boss of Barcelona Atletic - the second team of the Catalan giants. Given this link, the Mexican has been rumoured to be in line to replace Xavi at the end of the season.