Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi has admitted he was left utterly “surprised” by Zinedine Zidane’s resignation as Real Madrid head coach.

Zidane, 45, shocked the world on May 31 when he announced his decision to walkaway from Santiago Bernabeu after nine trophies in two-and-a-half glorious years at the helm.

“I was surprised, a lot because nobody expected it,” Messi told Mundo Deportivo, about his great El Clasico rival. “But he will also have his reasons.

“The truth is that I do not know what will have happened but it is also good to leave the way he left.

“During the time he was there, he won practically everything.”