Lisandro Martinez has admitted that Manchester United's players jokingly call Wout Weghorst 'bobo' following Lionel Messi’s criticism of the striker during the World Cup.
Weghorst, who signed for United on loan from Burnley in January, featured for the Netherlands in a fiery World Cup clash with Argentina in Qatar. The South American side came out on top in the bad-tempered clash, which saw 15 yellow cards handed out by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz.
The game went to penalties after an entertaining 2-2 draw in normal time, with Weghorst coming off the bench to score twice for Louis van Gaal's side. After the clash, Paris Saint-Germain star Messi was seen arguing with the Netherlands manager and his assistant Edgar Davids.
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Messi was also spotted shouting something in the direction of Weghorst during an interview, with reports suggesting that the Argentine ace said: "What are you looking at bobo (fool)? Get back there."
And United defender Martinez has now revealed that he and other United players wind up Weghorst by calling him 'bobo'. However, the centre-back was also keen to insist how it reflects the strong spirit within the squad.
"Here we are killing each other all the time, he takes it well," Martinez told TyC Sports. "I call him 'bobo' all the time as a joke, as do others. I would say to him 'good morning, bobo', I say 'bobo' to him, it's already like that and he takes it well, he's a good boy, we have a good vibes – and he is always laughing."
Discussing how the pair reflect on the clash between the Netherlands and Argentina at the World Cup, he added: "He feels that he played the game of his life, but he always stresses to me about the people of Argentina, about the fans, about how they supported us, he said it was crazy."
Messi previously admitted his argument with Weghorst was 'natural' and not a planned tirade. In an interview with Argentine journalist Andy Kusnetzoff, the former Barcelona man recalled the heated exchange with the Dutchman.
When asked if he prepared such an insult for his opponent, Messi replied: "The truth is no. I didn’t like it. It came out at the moment and yes, I knew what had been said before the game, what he had said.
"Some of my teammates told me 'did you see what he said' on purpose. We went 2-0 [up] and then at the time, I don’t like what I did, what happened later with the ‘bobo'. These are moments of great tension, a lot of anxiousness, everything happens very quickly and you don’t have time to think about anything. Actually, nothing was planned, it happened like that and as I say, it isn’t an image I like to give off.
"Everything that came out was natural, a lot had happened on the field with that player, in reality and a couple more. At the moment of tension, friction, confrontations, when the game goes like that, the heat with the referee too. I was in the mixed zone and the game had just finished. And well, I know there’s all sorts now."
Weghorst has scored just once since arriving at Old Trafford in January, but he has been praised for his hold-up play and ability to link-up with his teammates.
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