Adama Traore was the subject of a baffling rant on Spanish television, coming just hours after making an impressive return to Barcelona.
Traore re-joined the Blaugrana last week, signing from Wolves on loan for the remainder of the season.
Having graduated through the La Masia academy, the 26-year-old was keen to return to the Camp Nou and pushed through a move which could become permanent in the summer.
The Spaniard joins a Barcelona team that had been bereft of creative influences on the wing and his impact was immediate during the thrilling 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
In a typically high-octane display, Traore registered his first assist back in LaLiga, whipping in a perfectly weighted cross for Pablo Gavira.
Barca boss Xavi was full of praise for his new signing, but Jorge d'Alessandro, appearing on the controversial and often outspoken El Chiringuito, tried to suggest Traore had “no ability to dribble” - despite all the evidence pointing to the contrary.
An increasingly irate d’Alessandro also claimed that Traore had added nothing to his new team and bizarrely questioned whether the Spain international had any talent at all.
“I didn’t see a superior Barca,” d’Alessandro began. “Adama Traore, a player with a lot of strength, one-on-one, it was like a boxing match!
“Where is the talent? Where is the subtlety of dribbling? Where is the ability to dribble?
“Going through just with strength...but what kind of football is that?
“Football is strength? No, football is details…details in the ring. I don’t like that! I see that as a soldier.
“In the Premier League, he’s a sub behind [Francisco] Trincao. It sounds like you didn’t know him, you can keep Adama Traore!”
In a more reasoned response to his first game back at the club, Xavi suggested that Traore could make the difference for his side as they look for a strong end to his first season in charge.
"Adama is a very mature player. He knows when to face up, when to pass and he’s chosen his moments well today," Xavi told Marca.
“Physically he is an animal, a beast. He is a pure winger and he will help us. He is a great signing for the team.
“Adama makes the difference. He has power, strength, he dribbles at opponents and he’s solid in defence.”
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has already confirmed that the club will look to exercise his option at the end of the season, with his contract at Wolves expiring in 2023.
“Adama is on loan until the end of the season but Barca’s will is to exercise the purchase option,” Laporta said during Traore’s unveiling last week. “It’s a free option, not obligatory, for either party,
“There are fixed amounts and at the end of the season we will sit down with Adama and his representatives and I wish that we exercise this option.”
