Lionel Messi’s moving post on social media after confirming the U-turn in Barcelona

Lionel Messi has posted a photo of his three children on social media after citing their reaction as one of the main reasons for his decision to stay at Barcelona.

The Argentine sent a burofax to the Catalan club indicating his desire to retire last week.

But talks about his possible departure turned sour with Barcelona demanding that his £ 632 million release clause be paid in full.

Messi’s team believed he could still activate a clause in his contract that allows him to leave for free, but the 33-year-old did not want to drag the club he loves through a court case.

He also recalled, when he announced to the world that he would stay at the Camp Nou, how his eldest son, Thiago, reacted to the new one he was going to leave.

He told Goal: “When I communicated my wish to leave to my wife and children, it was a brutal drama.

“The whole family began to cry, my children did not want to leave Barcelona, ​​nor did they want to change schools.

“But I looked further and I want to compete at the highest level, win titles, compete in the Champions League. You can win or lose in it, because it is very difficult, but you have to compete.

“Mateo is still little and he doesn’t realize what it means to go somewhere else and make your life a few years elsewhere.

“Thiago, he’s older. He heard something on television, discovered something and asked.

“I didn’t want him to know anything about being forced to leave, having to live in a new school, or making new friends.

“He cried to me and said ‘let’s not go’. I repeat that it was hard, really.

“It was understandable. It happened to me. It is very difficult to make a decision. I love Barcelona and I won’t find a better place than here.

“Still, I have the right to decide. I was going to look for new goals and new challenges. And tomorrow I could go back, because here in Barcelona I have everything.

“My son, my family, grew up here and are from here. There was nothing wrong with wanting to leave.

“I needed it, the club needed it and it was good for everyone.”