Brazil boss Tite has opened up on his row with Lionel Messi in the first half of their 1-0 defeat to Argentina.
Messi scored the winner as he bundled in the rebound after his penalty was saved just 14 minutes into their clash in Saudi Arabia.
He then exchanged words with Tite during the opening half and was seen gesturing at the Brazil boss to be quiet as he complained to the referee.
And the boss revealed the Barcelona superstar bluntly told him to “shut his mouth” as they clashed.
Messi ultimately had the last laugh as Argentina condemned their rivals to a fifth straight game without a win – but Tite insists he as right to complain.
(Image: GloboEsporte)
He said: “I complained because he [Messi] should have been shown a yellow card and he told me to shut my mouth and I told him to shut his mouth.
“And that was it.
“I don’t want to answer anymore on it. You need a strong referee because he’ll swallow you… It should have been a card, I was right to complain.”
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Messi’s goal, which ultimately proved the winner, came just minutes after Gabriel Jesus had fired wide from 12 yards when he was given the chance to hand Brazil an early led.
Messi, making his first international appearance after a three-month suspension, came close to adding a second after the break but was stopped by Liverpool keeper Alisson low to his left.
He also saw a free-kick tipped over the bar as his side looked the more dangerous in a scrappy encounter between the historic South American rivals.
