Messi did not accede to the request of ex-Barça teammate Pique

Following the leaked audios by El Confidencial of messages between Barcelona's Gerard Pique and the RFEF president Luis Rubiales, relating to taking the Spanish Supercopa to Saudi Arabia, Lionel Messi's name has now appeared.

Pique proposed using Messi's name to press the Players Association into pushing through his and Rubiales' objective: modifying the LaLiga calendar and taking the Supercopa abroad.

"We have Leo who can also send (AFE president Aganzo) a video (to support their campaign) and everything," Pique said, "or a as a club Barca can send a message from all the captains."

Rubiales replied: "Well, condition it a bit. Not (so clear), but tell him 'look, I'm going to send you my video, also Leo's and what not..."

However, SPORT have learned through sources that this video with Messi as the main voice was never even recorded.

Despite that, Rubiales and Pique pushed their plan through, with the calendar modified to ensure the Supercopa could become a four-team tournament in January.