Matias Morla insisted Maradona’s words had been misinterpreted and bizarrely claimed he was trying to defend Messi rather than criticise him.
He also tried to shift some of the blame onto the Mexican TV reporter who got the 57-year-old World Cup winner to lash out at his compatriot.
But Mr Morla said Maradona would be calling Messi later today, although he insisted it would be to “explain” his controversial comments and not to say sorry.
Maradona caused consternation last week by claiming the Barcelona forward played differently when he was representing the Spanish side.
And he claimed it was a waste of time trying to turn him into a leader “because he goes to the toilet 20 times before a match”.
The football legend, who is idolised in Argentina because of his performances for his nation, also insisted he would not call the 31-year-old up for international duty if he was made manager of the national team again.
His astonishing attack was made during an interview on Fox Sports.
Messi’s cousin Maxi Biancucchi reacted by branding Maradona, who has battled weight problems as well as addictions to drugs and alcohol, “ignorant” over his comments.
Mario Kempes, whose goals helped Argentina win the 1978 World Cup, also weighed into the row at the weekend by saying Messi was the best player in the world and telling Maradona he should learnt to keep his mouth shut.
Speaking last night, Matias Morla said: “What Diego wanted to say was, ‘Don’t keep on at Messi about him needing to be a leader.’
“That was the meaning of what he said. Messi is not a leader.
“He’s in Barcelona playing in a team where everyone is playing well and as a team and that’s it.
“Everyone’s saying Diego was criticising Messi but it’s not true. Maradona has a way of speaking and he put that phrase about the toilet out there, partly guided by the Mexican journalist who was interviewing him and it created this situation.
"Tomorrow Maradona is going to call Messi, not to say sorry but to explain to him that what he meant to say was that they shouldn’t be putting so much pressure on him, on the contrary.”
Referring to the current woes of the Argentinian national team, he added: “Messi gets nervous before matches but Maradona wanted to say that it wasn’t his fault, it was the fault of the team as a whole.”
Maradona, current manager of Mexican second division club Dorados, also said it was time to stop treating Messi as a God during his controversial TV interview although he said the Barcelona forward and Cristiano Ronaldo were the best players in the world.
Maradona’s relationship with Messi was damaged when he was caught out telling Pele in Paris during a June 2006 charity act that the Barcelona star didn’t have the personality to be a leader.
His comments were picked up by the cameras and microphones in place for the event.
Maradona was not among the guests at Messi’s June 30 2017 wedding to childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo in their home city of Rosario.
Jorge Sampaoli was relieved of his duties as manager of the national team after Argentina’s chaotic World Cup performance.
Inexperienced Lionel Scaloni has been appointed caretaker manager.
Last month he refused to say if Messi would represent his country again after he opted out of two September friendlies against Guatemala and Colombia.
Mario Kempes told a sports programme at the weekend: “Every time Maradona opens his mouth it’s a problem because he doesn’t show any respect.
“It’s been 30 years since he played football. He’s not a role model to be saying all the things he says. I think sometimes people need to shut their mouths and enjoy what we have.
“Leo is the best player in the word and he is Argentinian. We should be grateful of that.”
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