- Bologna manager Thiago Motta has been tipped to take over at Barcelona
- Motta was reportedly involved in a prank during his Barcelona playing career
- Richest club in the world, but can’t spend any money… what on earth is going on at Newcastle? Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off Transfer Week podcast
A Spanish television presenter has claimed former Barcelona star Thiago Motta once let off a fire extinguisher in a nightclub and suggested the alleged prank should rule him out of becoming the club’s next manager.
Motta came through the Barcelona academy and established himself as part of the first team between 2001 and 2007.
He has been linked with a return to the club as manager, following the confirmation Xavi will leave his post at the end of the season.
Motta, 41, has earned praise for his work at Bologna having steered the club into the top half in Serie A.
Spanish television presenter lbert Lesan remains opposed the potential appointment of Motta and made claims about a bizarre incident involving Motta.
Bologna manager Thiago Motta was reportedly involved in a bizarre prank as a Barcelona player
Motta was claimed to have set off a fire extinguisher in a nightclub as a Barcelona player
Spanish presenter lbert Lesan claimed the alleged incident should rule Motta out of the job
Your browser does not support iframes.
Speaking on the programme Rondenado on the Catalan television network 8tvcat, Lesan claimed Motta had been involved in a prank with a fire extinguisher during his playing career at the club.
‘I’m going to say something about Thiago Motta because he can no longer be coach of FC Barcelona,’ Lesan said, as per Marca. ‘One day I was in the nightclub and… I’m going to tell it, I’m going to tell it!
‘Thiago Motta with Deco and company, who were in the nightclub, took a fire extinguisher and sprayed it, thinking it was funny, all over the room.
‘There were asthmatic people about to drown that day and a group of karate fighters who wanted to kill him.
‘And this happened with Thiago Motta. I’m sorry. Being a professional Barca player, Thiago Motta did this in the nightclub, and there are thousands of witnesses.
‘Therefore, this guy cannot come to train at Barca no matter how close a friend of Deco he is. And he cannot leave Barca in the hands of Deco.’
The alleged incident would likely have to have occurred between 2004 to 2007, when Deco and Thiago Motta were both players at Barcelona.
Deco is currently Barcelona director of football and will have a key role to play in selecting the club’s next manager.
Motta has been mentioned among the contenders to succeed Xavi as Barcelona head coach, after the club legend announced he will quit at the end of the season.
Barcelona director of football Deco was reportedly also involved in the alleged incident
Barcelona are looking for a new coach after Xavi said he would quit at the end of the season
The 41-year-old is currently in the third managerial role of his career, with the Bologna boss having previously had spells in charge if Spezia and Genoa.
Xavi confirmed his decision to step down as coach at a press conference following a 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal.
‘I decided it some time ago,’ Xavi said.
‘The feeling of being a Barça coach is cruel, unpleasant and unpleasant one,’ he said. ‘There is a lot of disrespect and it affects you, until it leads to a decision like this one.’
The pressure has been building for weeks with Deco rumoured to be keen on replacing Xavi with B-team coach Rafa Marquez.
