Story By: Juan Mayes, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golder’s News And Sport

Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal has said “I have learned a lot in a few short days and internal issues should be fixed internally, not in the media” after his row with Lionel Messi.

Former Barcelona superstar Abidal, 40, made the comments during a press conference at the presentation of their latest signing, former Middlesbrough forward Martin Braithwaite, 28.

Abidal said: “If there is one thing I know, it is that I have learned a lot of things in a few short days and that internal issues should be fixed internally and not in the media.

“From there the future will tell us” apparently referring to his row with Argentine superstar Messi, 32, after Abidal told Spanish newspaper ‘Diario Sport’ that former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde’s sacking was partly because “many players were not satisfied”.

The comments prompted Messi to post a statement on his social media saying: “When you talk about players you have to give names, if not, you throw dirt on everybody.”

When speaking about Barcelona’s recent signing Braithwaite, Abidal said: “He has a lot of experience He is a different forward to the ones that we have.

“He has character, speed and he is strong. He will give us strength against big clubs, his potential is big.

“We trust in his talent very much. He will be decisive for us even though he can only play in La Liga. I hope we can compete at the highest level.”

When speaking about the controversy surrounding the transfer, as it is outside of the transfer window, he said: “It is true that we can talk about a small squad.

“Unfortunately, you can have injured players and I repeat, this situation is one the club has not been through a lot and if Dembele was not injured, we surely would not be here today.”

Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele, 22, recently received surgery for a right hamstring injury which will see him miss the remainder of the season and is expected to need six months of recovery time.

Barcelona are set to play Eibar tomorrow (Saturday) as they sit second in La Liga with 52 points.

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