Former Arsenal playmaker, Alexander Hleb, has claimed Barcelona sold Deco and Ronaldinho to protect Lionel Messi, because the pair always turned up for training drunk.

Deco and Ronaldinho were established world-class players at Camp Nou, by the time Lionel Messi emerged from the Barcelona youth system in 2004.

But the duo were sold in 2008 when Guardiola took charge.

Hleb, 38, joined the Blaugrana from Arsenal the same year Pep Guardiola was appointed as Rijkaard’s successor.

“Deco and Ronaldinho came to training drunk.

“That’s why Deco and Ronaldinho were sold in 2008. Because they were afraid that they would bring down Messi,” Hleb told VOKA TV