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Manuel Friedrich and Michal Kadlec Fight for Lionel Messi’s Jerseys, Leverkusen Forces Duo to Auction Prizes

Manuel Friedrich and Michal Kadlec are in hot water with their employer, German club Bayer Leverkusen, because they were over-enthusiastic in their pursuit of Lionel Messi’s jersey. The pair will not be able to hold onto the keepsakes. 

Reuters reports the club’s sports director Rudi Voeller is not happy that the duo fought over the souvenir. Leverkusen lost to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, but Kadlec and Freidrich’s minds may have been elsewhere.

The post-game jersey exchange is one of soccer’s great traditions, but Friedrich and Kadlec violated any number of its rules.

To start, Friedrich asked for, and recieved, Messi’s shirt … at halftime.

This upset Kadlec, who was planning to ask for the Barcelona’s star’s jersey. He asked Messi for his new shirt after the game, and the FIFA Ballon D’or winner obliged.

Voeller was not pleased at the sight of two Messi jerseys in the Leverkusen locker room after the loss.

“I can guarantee you that these two players will auction off the tops for a good cause,” Voeller reportedly told German newspaper Bild.

“What they did was too much of a good thing. I have not yet spoken with them but I will do it.”

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