We rank the top five players who hold too much power at their respective clubs…
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has been forced to tell the media that star player Lionel Messi is happy at the club, after the Argentinian’s rather public fall-out with manager Luis Enrique, which could cost the boss his job.
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Messi started on the bench as Barcelona lost to Real Sociedad at the weekend, and the forward was reportedly furious to have been left out. And despite claiming his stars were happy, Bartomeu has called presidential elections for the end of the season, after conceding the club has been affected by “an astonishing amount of tension over the last few weeks”.
Here are five players we think hold too much power at their respective clubs:
5) Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
While the amount of influence Gerrard holds at Liverpool was not necessarily a bad thing while he remained at the club, his impending absence is going to leave a huge hole in the club’s structure, both on and off the pitch. Stories regularly emerged of Gerrard being sent to convince players, such as Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres, to delay leaving Anfield, while he helped nurture a number of the youngster squad players. Liverpool have grown too heavily reliant on him, and will struggle to cope with his loss in the summer.
4) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Rooney has been able to demand what he’s wanted at Manchester United, threatening to leave the club on more than one occasion prior to being offered an improved contract. Every time Rooney asked for a better deal, he got his way, and last summer when he asked for the captaincy, he got that as well – despite initial reports suggesting manager Louis van Gaal favoured countryman Robin Van Persie. While Rooney deserved recognition for leading the club to success, he has had the club in his back pocket for a number of years.
3) John Terry (Chelsea)
Andre Villas Boas blamed his sacking as Chelsea boss on a group of senior players, most likely led by captain John Terry. The club captain is an important figure at the club, but has arguably taken advantage of his influence. With Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard now gone, Terry’s importance as a leader has intensified, and perhaps he’s put some previous immature rumours – such as selling illegal tours of the training ground through his father – behind him.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid is all about Ronaldo, with numerous rumours having circled regarding his treatment of other players and his influence over decisions that take place at the club. Whatever happens behind the scenes, it’s not effected his form, as he continues to break scoring records. But he proved during his time at Manchester United, when he claimed to being treated like a slave, that he’s capable of getting his own way at any lengths. How will his time in Spain come to an end?
1) Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Like Ronaldo, Messi is the heart and soul of his club side, and many talented players have fallen by the wayside as a result. Thierry Henry, Alexis Sanchez, Cesc Fabregas, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Villa – none of them enjoyed their best form at the Camp Nou, because the whole team was based around the Argentinian. Now it seems as though his influence extends much further, with manager Luis Enrique potentially facing the sack as a result of upsetting him. That shows just how highly the Barca hierarchy treasure him and his happiness.
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