Real Valladolid sporting director David Espinar described Messi as a virus following Barcelona's 5-1 win against his club.

Espinar also described the mutual respect between Messi and Ronaldo. Ronaldo is the majority owner of Valladolid.

"Messi is a smallpox, but there is no vaccine. He is an admirer of Ronaldo Nazario, and our president has already said that he admires him. It's a mutual feeling, and Ronaldo will have been as astonishing as everyone tonight but feeling a little bitter that Messi has done this against us," said Espinar.