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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Toure revealed Barca players protected Messi </li><li>Ronaldinho turned his team-mates into laughing stock </li><li>Spent three years at Camp Nou </li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

‘Everyone protected’ Lionel Messi in Barcelona training as Ronaldinho turned team-mates into ‘laughing stock’ with nutmeg antics

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Barcelona

Mallorca

<p>Manchester City legend Toure spent three years at Camp Nou, where he played alongside legends like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi. The former Ivory Coast international won seven titles during his brief stay which includes two La Liga and a Champions League title. </p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Reminiscing his time at the Catalan club, Toure recalled sharing a dressing room with Messi as he claimed that every Barcelona player protected the young Argentine at that time. He also recalled how Ronaldinho turned his teammates into a 'laughing stock' by nutmegging them in training. </p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Speaking on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N74eIUgyxPE" target="_blank"><em>Rio Ferdinand Presents</em></a> podcast, the 41-year-old said: "Everyone protected him because we knew he was a talented player and we recognized how good he was. That was very beneficial for the club. We were happy when opponents pressed us high. Because we simply, without thinking, would try to pass the ball to him immediately." </p><p>He added: "In my early days with Barcelona during training, Ronaldinho seemed ordinary. But one day he came to me and said, 'Be careful, Yaya, if you get close to me, I’ll make you a laughing stock.' I thought he was just joking, but every time I got near him, he’d nutmeg me."</p>

WHAT YAYA TOURE SAID

<p>The Blaugrana will be back in action next week in the Champions League as they take on Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their quarter-final fixture at home. </p>

WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

‘Everyone protected’ Lionel Messi in Barcelona training as Ronaldinho turned team-mates into ‘laughing stock’ with nutmeg antics | Goal.com

Former Barcelona star Yaya Toure revealed how they used to protect Lionel Messi as he recalled Ronaldinho turning team-mates into &apos;laughing stock&apos;.

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