Maradona denies criticizing Messi

Diego Maradona says he "loves" Lionel Messi and described as "false" comments attributed to him attacking his Argentine compatriot and Barcelona legend.

"Leo is a friend of mine and I'd never speak ill of a friend," Maradona assured Spanish sports newspaper Marca on Wednesday.

Last month, Maradona was quoted as telling Fox Sports in Mexico that Messi "is not a leader... It's useless to try to make a leader out of someone who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a game".