Disc jockey denies infecting Lionel Messi with COVID after receiving death threats

A disc jockey in Argentina says he received death threats on social media and has been accused of being an "assassin" in the wake of Lionel Messi testing positive for COVID-19. 

Messi's club Paris Saint-Germain confirmed Sunday he and three other members of the team tested positive for the virus. Messi had been celebrating the holidays in his native Rosario, Argentina. 

One of those celebrations included a performance from DJ Fer Palacio, who was photographed with Messi on Dec. 27.

Fans online began threatening Fer Palacio, who responded with a video message on his Instagram story. ESPN reported that Fer Palacio had attended several parties in the previous days where people were later tested and confirmed to have positive COVID-19 cases.

"I am (trending) on Twitter because Messi tested positive for COVID-19. They (say) that I infected him," the 31-year-old DJ said in Spanish. "They have even called me 'murderer.' I have a lot of very bad (direct) messages. Yesterday, I was tested because I have to travel to Uruguay and I do not have COVID-19."

Fer Palacio also posted his negative COVID-19 test results (under his official name Fernando Palacio) on social media. 

Messi posted a New Year's message on social media two days ago, mentioning "this (expletive) virus that will never end." 

Messi will rejoin PSG once he tests negative, the club's manager said Sunday. 

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.