Former Barcelona board member Roman Gomez Ponti has been recorded slamming Lionel Messi as leaks have made it to the Spanish press today.

Messages published by El Periodico as part of the Barcagate investigation were sent in a Whatsapp group allegedly between Ponti, ex-president Josep Bartomeu, former general director Oscar Grau, ex-financial director Pancho Schroder and ex-directory of Strategy and Innovation Javier Sobrino.

The group were furious that details of Messi's contract had been leaked to the press in 2021, as ex-head of legal services Ponti hit out at Bartomeu for his favouritism of the club's star man.

"Really, you can't be such a good person with this sewer rat," he wrote. "The club has given him everything and he has dedicated himself to marking a dictatorship of signings, transfers, renewals, sponsorships just for him, etc."

The board member continued to slate Messi, calling him a "pesetero", meaning a money-grabber, while questioning the contract renewals of key players Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and a renewal fee to Ansu Fati, which went to his agent, Messi's brother Rodrigo.

Ponti also allegedly said: "The accumulation of blackmail and transplants that the club and those of us who work have suffered from this hormonal dwarf that Barça owes life ... ahhh. But when they go wrong you receive their mythical whatsapp: 'press and pay the others, but don't touch me and Luis (Suarez)'. Hopefully it goes between the indifference of the people, which is the worst thing that can happen to (a manger more)."