The lawyer of Diego Maradona says he'll contact Barcelona captain Leo Messi directly to clarify recent comments.

The Argentina legend criticised Messi and questioned his leadership skills within the Albiceleste squad, suggesting that he went to the toilet 20 times before a match.

"Maradona is going to call Messi to explain what he meant," Matias Morla told Luis Novaresio Entrevista.

"He has always supported the national team and what he meant was that they shouldn't drive Messi crazy anymore and that he is not a leader, unlike what was said.

"He is not to blame for the current failure, but, as he has a way of speaking, this situation arose.

"Maradona is sad, as he was very hurt by what [Mario] Kempes said afterwards."

Former Valencia star Kempes had defended Messi after's Maradona's criticism.

"Every time Maradona opens his mouth it's a problem because he doesn't respect," Kempes noted.

"[However], he was respected, as he lost a final in Italy and nobody said anything, as we blamed a thousand other things."