Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo de Paul has rejected doubts around Argentina captain Leo Messi.

Messi's first season with PSG has failed to meet expectations.

But De Paul says: “He is very used to the responsibility, the pressure. It's a moment that he has to go through because they were knocked out of the Champions League but that's what football is. He has to be proud of what he has won. The dynamic of this sport is that sometimes it rewards you and sometimes it punishes you.

"Playing for Argentina will do him good, it will change his mindset a bit.

“I can't tell you much of what I think… It's barely understandable, but there it is. I don't agree with it. People with have done it because they were angry, but without thinking about it. But you can't ever whistle a guy like Messi, no matter where in the world and no matter what the reason is."