Alexander Hleb says Barcelona sold Ronaldinho and Deco to protect Lionel Messi because the pair would often turn up to training drunk.
Ronaldinho and Deco were established world-class players at Camp Nou by the time Messi emerged from the Barca youth system in 2004 to impress alongside them in the first-team.
But the Brazil and Portugal internationals were sold in 2008 when Pep Guardiola took charge and refined the squad before overseeing an era of incredible success with the Catalan club.
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Hleb, 38, joined the Blaugrana from Arsenal the same year Guardiola was appointed as Frank Rijkaard's successor and remembers Ronaldinho and Deco's antics.