Former Espanyol defender Alvaro Gonzalez has revealed how he had Lionel Messi in stitches during a verbal on field exchange.

Gonzalez left Espanyol this summer to join Olympique Marseille on-loan and has recalled one face-to-face exchange with Barcelona captain Messi.

He told RMC: "It's a pretty funny anecdote. It was a period during three consecutive derbies - Espanyol-Barça. Matches of great intensity. We responded tac-tac.

"I say, 'You're really small, tiny.' He looks at me and answers: 'You are really bad at football'.

"I got the last word saying, 'Yes, we're both right'. We laughed together and this story made a lot smile in Spain."