Lionel Messi: 'I no longer have relationship with Pep Guardiola'

Lionel Messi has revealed that he no longer has a relationship with former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola.

Under Guardiola's guidance between 2008 and 2012, Barcelona and Messi won numerous titles, including two Champions Leagues and three La Liga crowns.

Guardiola left Camp Nou at the end of the 2011-12 season, however, before taking control of Bayern Munich in 2013.

Messi has claimed that the pair "had a fantastic relationship" during their time together in Spain, but that close bond has now disappeared.

"We had a great time when Pep was here. We won a lot of titles and I grew a lot – that was the time when I grew most as a footballer," Messi told reporters.

"We had a fantastic relationship when he was here. I have seen him a few times since he left but we don't have any kind of relationship now."

Guardiola will return to Camp Nou on Wednesday as his Bayern team take on Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.