Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi admitted he was too emotional to face the media glare at coach Pep Guardiola’s farewell announcement yesterday.

The Argentinian paid tribute to his boss via his Facebook page.

Messi said: “I want to thank Pep with all my heart for everything he has given me in my professional career and personally.

“Because of the emotions I preferred not to be present at Pep’s PC because I know they will look for the pain on the players’ faces.

“It is something I decided not to show.”

More than 100,000 fans clicked the ‘Like’ button on Messi’s comment to demonstrate their support and 10,000 left comments, the vast majority backing him.

Defender Gerard Pique, also heaped praise on his departing coach. “Many thanks Pep for giving us so much,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Four years full of victories, of good times and above all lessons in football.”