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It’s official: Lionel Messi will not leave Barcelona. But it will not be at your will. In an interview with the “Goal” portal, the Argentine addresses Josep Bartomeu, president of the club, whom he accuses of not keeping his word.
“I was sure that I was free to leave, the president always said that at the end of the season he could decide to leave or stay. He did not keep his word,” says the player.
“I told the club, including the president, that I wanted to leave. I told him all year. I realized that it was time to go. The club needs younger players, new players and I saw that my time at Barcelona was running out. Too bad, because I always said I wanted to end my career at Barcelona, ”says Messi, refusing that the decision to leave is related to Bayern Munich’s 8-2 defeat in the Champions League.
The issue is in a clause that allowed Messi to go out for free if it was activated before June 10. The problem is that with the extension of the season, due to covid-19, on that date Barcelona continued to play the League and the Champions League.
“They hold on to the fact that I didn’t say anything until June 10. And that’s why I’m going to stay at the club. I’m going to stay at the club because the president told me that the only way out is to pay 700 million euros. of the clause and that is impossible, ”explains the 33-year-old Argentine, 20 at Barcelona.
Messi also highlights in the interview that he could choose the judicial route, but that “he would never do that” to Barcelona: “It is the club that I love, that has given me everything since I arrived. It is the club of my life. went through my head. ” take Barcelona to court “.
“I love Barcelona and I will not find a better place than here. But I have the right to decide, I wanted to seek new goals and challenges. And then I was able to return, because in Barcelona I have everything,” says the forward.
The Argentine also says that he asked to leave because he wanted “to live happily the last years of football.” And that lately he did not find “that happiness in Barcelona”.
The son’s tears
During the interview, Messi also spoke about how his decision to leave affected the family, that is, the eldest son, Thiago.
“When I communicated my desire to go out to my wife and children it was a brutal drama,” he says. “The whole family started crying, the children don’t want to leave Barcelona, they don’t want to change schools.”
“Mateo is still young and does not understand what it means to go somewhere else. But Thiago is older. He heard himself on television and asked me. He cried and asked me ‘let’s not go’. He repeated that … it was really difficult”, said the Argentine star.
Messi also guarantees in the interview with “Goal” that his attitude “will not change” and will continue to bet on playing his best at Barcelona.
“I always want to win, I am competitive and I do not like to lose. I always want the best for the club, for the dressing room and for myself,” he underlines.
