A former FC Barcelona star has explained why he thinks the LaLiga giants sold superstar duo Deco and Ronaldinho more than a decade ago, insisting this was done in five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi's best interests.
Former Belarus international Alexander Hleb arrived at the Camp Nou from Arsenal in July 2008 as Pep Guardiola's first signing, penning a four-year contract. He played just 36 games for Barca, however, and spent most of his four-year spell out on loan with VfB Stuttgart, Birmingham City and VfL Wolfsburg.
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The former midfielder has now spoken about his time with the Spanish giants, revealing how Deco and Ronaldinho would turn up to training drunk, which is why he believes the club decided to sell them.
"Ronaldinho and Deco came to training drunk," he told Voka TV.
"That's why Ronaldinho and Deco were sold in 2008. Because they (Barca) were afraid that they would bring down Lionel Messi."
Hleb also explained why he joined Barca despite favouring a move to Bayern Munich
"Frankly, I initially did not want to go to Barcelona at all. I wanted to go to Bayern Munich or stay at Arsenal. But the agents were telling me to go as it was Guardiola who was calling," he added.
"When I moved to Barca, I lived with Thierry Henry for a while. He said to me: 'Stay until you find something. What is in the hotel? It's boring.' And so I spent a month with him.
"He always said to me: 'Why did you go to Barca?! Well, call me, I would explain everything!'"
Hleb won the LaLiga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League titles during his stint with Barca.