NO MAUR WORDS
Pochettino slams claims PSG have disrespected Barcelona with Lionel Messi transfer pursuit as Herrera reveals FFP fears
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MAURICIO POCHETTINO has hit back at claims Paris Saint-Germain are disrespecting Barcelona with their public pursuit of Lionel Messi.
Catalan chief Ronald Koeman recently blasted PSG after a succession of players talked up signing Argentine superstar Messi.
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Messi, 33, is out of contract this summer and expected to leave the Nou Camp on a free transfer.
He tried and failed to quit last year before being made to stay put despite strong links with Manchester City.
But Messi apparently remains intent on leaving after details of his mega-contract were leaked to the public.
And French giants PSG have now emerged as the leading contender for his signature with Angel Di Maria claiming there is a 'big chance' the club will sign his Argentine team-mate.
France Football then upped the ante by mocking up a picture of Messi in a PSG shirt but Pochettino insisted he cannot control the media.
Poch told reporters on Tuesday: "At no time have we shown disrespect.
"Players can talk, say what they think about other players. We have total respect for clubs. Do not mistake France Football for PSG."
At no time have we shown disrespect. Players can talk, say what they think about other players. We have total respect for clubs.
Mauricio Pochettino on Lionel Messi
Ander Herrera meanwhile refused to become the latest PSG player to stir up speculation surrounding Messi's rumoured summer transfer.
Yet the former Manchester United star did admit that he believes the Parisians couldn't sign the Barca captain due to Financial Fair Play.
He told El Larguero (): "Messi, Neymar and Mbappe together? I don't know how that would work with Financial Fair Play, but I don't think so.
"I'm not going to get into this one. When everyone at Barca was talking about Neymar, inside and outside the club, we did not like it.
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"I'm not going to do something that I don't like being done to me. I have a lot of respect for Barca, Messi, his coach and his team-mates.
"It is not a strategy. Me, I will not speak about him. I respect those who do it, but I put myself in the shoes of the club in which Messi has evolved."
Herrera added: "If I were I at Barca, I would not like people talking about Messi. It does not seem to me to be a lack of respect, but I will not do it."
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