Messi asks Maffeo if he's on loan from City
Lionel Messi asked Girona's Pablo Maffeo if he is on loan from Manchester City during Barcelona's latest LaLiga victory.
Manchester City loanee Pablo Maffeo caught the attention of Barcelona star Lionel Messi during Girona's 3-0 loss to the LaLiga leader.
Maffeo, 20, is on a season-long loan at newly-promoted Girona, which is also owned by City Football Group, Manchester City's parent company.
The Spaniard made 27 appearances for Girona last season as it secured promotion to LaLiga for the first time in their history and Maffeo was quizzed by five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi during the clash at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi.
"He [Messi] asked me a couple of things, like if I was loaned by City and how old I was," Maffeo said.
"It was all good."
On Messi, Maffeo added: "I had to mark him and I had to be close to him and not watch the ball.
"It is difficult, not just from a football perspective, but also psychologically.
"I appreciate the trust the coach placed in me."
Girona is 16th in the standings, 13 points adrift of high-flying Barca after six matches.