Lionel Messi: Barcelona Sold Deco and Ronaldinho in Order to Protect Superstar

• Brazil superstar Ronaldingo and Portugal icon Deco were sold by Barcelona because they came to training drunk
• According to former Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb, Barcelona didn't want the two superstars to influence Lionel Messi
• Ronaldinho was sold to Italian giants AC Milan and Deco to Premier League side Chelsea in Pep Guardiola's first summer in charge at Barcelona

Former star Alexander Hleb made the sensational claims in an interview on Belarussian TV.

Alexander Hleb has made a sensational claim that Barcelona made the decision to sell Ronaldinho and Deco to protect Lionel Messi from their bad influence.

Ronaldinho and Deco were standout players at Camp Nou by the time Messi emerged from the La Masia to break through into the first team in 2004.

But the duo were sold as soon as Pep Guardiola was named as the manager of the club and oversaw extraordinary success in Catalonia.

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Hleb, who signed for Barcelona the same year Guardiola took charge as Frank Rijkaard’s successor, has revealed Deco and Ronaldinho would often turn up to training drunk.

“Ronaldinho and Deco came to training drunk,” he told V OKA TV via the Sun.

“That’s why Ronaldinho and Deco were sold in 2008. Because they were afraid that they would bring down Lionel Messi.”

Hleb signed for Barcelona in 2008 but spent more time away on loan than at the club in the next four years.

His contract was eventually terminated by mutual consent in 2012, per Sky Sports.

Messi was rated as the best talent in Barcelona's academy system even before he ever made his senior debut at the age of 16.

The Barca hierarchy were determined to protect and nurture him as best as possible, hence the decision to sell Ronaldinho and Deco in 2008.

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The duo form a wonderful combo at Camp Nou, winning two La Ligas and one UEFA Champions League title.

Deco left to join Chelsea before finishing his career at Fluminese, while Ronaldinho signed for jAC Milan.

He later had stops at Flamengo, Atletico Mineiro, Queretaro and Fluminese.

Barcelona Legend Deco Names the One Player Who Is Better Than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Sports Brief earlier reported that legendary Barcelona midfielder Deco has rated Ronaldinho as more talented than Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo and PSG icon Lionel Messi.

In his illustrious career, Deco played with Messi and Ronaldinho at club level and Ronaldo for his country Portugal.

Despite Messi and Ronaldo winning a combined 12 Ballon d'Or trophies in their illustrious careers, Deco has tipped Brazilian magician Ronaldinho as the best player ever.