Tomáš Souček detailed a disappointing moment when Lionel Messi allegedly snubbed him after a Champions League match, reneging on an agreement to swap jerseys.
West Ham United midfielder Tomáš Souček has revealed a disappointing encounter with Lionel Messi in 2019, claiming the Argentine superstar reneged on an agreed jersey swap following a Champions League match.
According to a report from Sport Witness, West Ham star Tomáš Souček has opened up about a surprising and disappointing experience with Lionel Messi, which is detailed in an excerpt from the Czech midfielder’s recently released book.
The incident occurred back in 2019 when Souček, then playing for Slavia Prague, faced Barcelona twice in the Champions League group stage, securing a famous 0-0 draw at the Camp Nou in the second fixture.
Souček, who moved to West Ham the following January, was denied a memento by the football legend despite a clear promise.
Recalling the match, Souček stated: “In Barcelona, we faced the best player in the world. For me, a football god and a guy from another galaxy. The master Lionel Messi,” he said.
The midfielder described being nervous yet approaching the icon after the final whistle. He politely asked in English, “Can we exchange, please?” to which “Mr. Messi nodded and gestured: “Si, si, wait for me at the cabins.””
Souček waited by the Barcelona locker room and approached the player again. “I was hunting for English words: “Thanks again for the match. Can I have the jersey please?””
However, the exchange never happened. Souček claims he was then brusquely dismissed by the superstar:
“I probably didn’t deserve an answer, because he just waved his hand angrily, didn’t even look me in the eye, and before I could turn around to follow him, he had disappeared through the door in a sour mood.”