Lionel Messi has been accused of using racial slurs while he was a Barcelona player
Former Real Madrid winger Royston Drenthe has made a shocking claim about Lionel Messi, alleging that the Argentine star directed racial insults toward him during a LaLiga match.
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Drenthe, who played for Hercules on loan from Real Madrid during the 2010/11 season, stated that Messi repeatedly used a racial slur when the two faced off on the pitch.
Drenthe accuses Messi of using racist language
The Dutchman revealed these allegations during an interview on The Wild Project, revisiting his time in Spanish football, where he also accused some of his former teammates of using similar language in training.
Royston Drenthe playing against Lionel Messi | Imago
Royston Drenthe playing against Lionel Messi | Imago
The former Real Madrid star made the explosive allegations while discussing his career experiences. Reflecting on his time at Hercules, he recounted an encounter with Messi in a league match against Barcelona.
The former Dutch international said, “In a game when I was in Hercules, against Barça, Messi called me s***** black. Then he told me that the Argentine players among them were called f****** blacks, for them it was a normal thing, for example they told Garay and he did not care, but they have to understand that a boy like me did not like it.
Royston Drenthe in a confrontation with Lionel Messi | Imago
Royston Drenthe in a confrontation with Lionel Messi | Imago
“It is not the same as my friends told me in training, that a rival told me. After we have not spoken it again, the subject passed. I have a lot of respect for him because he has been one of the best players in the world.”
Drenthe also accused his former Real Madrid teammates, Gabriel Heinze and Gonzalo Higuaín, of using similar language during training sessions, though he did not specify whether it was intended as a joke or an insult.
Barcelona defend Messi, deny racism allegations
Following Drenthe’s previous remarks in 2012 over the same issue, Barcelona swiftly responded, firmly denying the accusations and defending Messi’s character.
Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi with the 2008/09 LaLiga title won under Pep Guardiola
A Barcelona spokesperson dismissed the claims at the time, stating: “The player has always shown maximum respect and sportsmanship towards his rivals, something recognised by fellow professionals. We are sure that any accusations to the contrary are well wide of the mark.”
At the time of the alleged incident, Drenthe was playing on loan at Hercules from Real Madrid. He later moved to Everton but struggled with disciplinary issues and eventually faded from top-level football.
Fati had been compared to Lionel Messi, who left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
While Messi has not personally responded to the allegations, his long-standing reputation has made many skeptical of Drenthe’s claims. However, the Dutchman insists that the words used on the pitch affected him deeply, regardless of their intent.
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