Lionel Messi branded 'possessed dwarf' by Monterrey's assistant coach

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Photo: @InterMiamiCF

Lionel Messi was absent when Inter Miami faced Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Thursday, but still managed to make headlines thanks to an altercation following a bad-tempered match.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner missed the first leg of the quarter-final through injury as Miami suffered a 2-1 home defeat to the Mexican side.

READ MORE: 'Lionel Messi didn't care about rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo'

Messi watched from the stands but appeared in the tunnel after the game, where he had an altercation with Monterrey's assistant coach Nico Sánchez.

Reports suggest an argument kicked-off as Inter Miami players approached the match officials after they received six yellow cards and one red in the feisty clash.

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On Friday, Fox Sports Mexico leaked audio of Sánchez describing the incident with derogatory remarks about Messi.

When I'm at the door to the locker room I see Messi three meters from where I am. I approach him to ask for a photo, his security, in good spirit, stop me, and I notice Messi is heated.

Right then, the referees were coming in, Messi gets in their face and tells them off.

Officials from CONCACAF were there and I told them, "If we were to do that they'd kick us all out."

When I say that, [Inter Miami coach] Tata Martino was going into the locker room turned around and started yelling at me and Messi appeared.

The dwarf was possessed, he had the face of the devil. He put his fist next to my face and says, "Who do you think you are?"

But because I didn't look at him, I was looking away, I never answered back, it made things worse.

And Tata Martino, what a poor dummy, I had him in front of me telling me, "Fool, you going to cry? Fool you going to cry?" What a dummy.

All those videos, they probably erased them all because it leaves them looking bad. What they did was really serious.

After the audio was leaked, Sánchez has issued an apology on social media, though he did not directly mention Messi.

Since I do not know the Inter coach, Tata Martino, I referred to him in a disrespectful manner and I apologise.

I am as Argentine as all of them and I will always defend my club. I'm here to show my face and take charge.

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