Barcelona under Pep Guardiola was a harmonious, magical team resembling a masterpiece filled with stars, a team that knew itself by heart and left an everlasting mark in football history. That team treated the ball in an exceptional way, rarely seen on the fields, and will remain etched in the memory of fans. No one can forget that golden era when the Catalan club dominated championships and performances.

Despite this great glory, there were some players who were used to lifting trophies and celebrating with them, yet they always remained in the shadow away from the spotlight. Goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto is the most remembered among these players, as his name resurfaced in recent hours due to a strong and direct statement he made about his former teammate Lionel Messi.

While Pinto was always known for his casual interaction with Messi, this time he did not hesitate to express his annoyance at the repeated questions about the Argentine star in every media appearance, saying bluntly: "It annoys me that they ask me all the time about Messi. I prefer they ask questions about me."

During his talk with the famous Spanish journalist Josep Pedrerol, Pinto emphasized his desire for less talk about Messi in his interviews, in exchange for highlighting his current career and personal projects, especially after stepping away from football and completely changing his lifestyle, as he moved into music production and distanced himself from the stadium lights.

Pinto added: "Many people approach me just to ask about Messi, and I am not obliged to tell anything."

At the end of his talk, the former goalkeeper touched on the nature of the relationship he had with Messi inside Barcelona, confirming it was a genuine friendship. He said: "For me, he is my friend. He used to talk to me a lot and felt comfortable with me. I used to meet with the Argentine players because I like drinking mate."