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Goal visited Lionel Messi at his home in Castelldefels, where he gave an interview in which he explained his decision to remain at Barcelona until the end of his contract.
– Why have you been silent for so long?
– First, it was hard for me after the defeat in Lisbon. We knew that Bayern would be a tough opponent, but we couldn’t predict that it would end so badly for the club. Barcelona looked terrible. It was really bad. Before explaining everything, I wanted a little time to pass.
– Why did you tell Barça that you wanted to go?
– I told the club and the president that I want to go. I told him this all year long. I felt it was time to go. I believed that the club needed new and young people, and I felt that my time at the club had come to an end. I have always said that I want to finish my degree here. It was a very difficult year, it was very difficult for me in training, in the game, in the dressing room. Everything was very difficult, and then the moment came when I decided to seek new goals. This did not happen after the result of the game with Bayern, I thought about it before. I told the president about it and he always replied that I could decide at the end of the season whether to stay or not. In the end, he did not keep his word.
– Did you feel lonely?
– No, I did not feel alone, I always have the support of my loved ones, which makes me stronger. But I was offended by what people say, journalists who question my loyalty to Barcelona and say things that I do not deserve. It helped me understand who is who. The world of football is very complex, there are many insincere people in it. He had a different opinion of many people, but now he saw them from a different angle. I was insulted when my love for the club was questioned. My love for Barcelona will last forever.
– What was the most unpleasant thing you heard?
– A bit of everything, “Messi’s friends”, money… Much has been said that could offend. I have always put the club first. I have had the opportunity to leave Barcelona more than once. Money? I could leave every year and earn more than in Barcelona. I’ve always said this is my home and I still feel it. It is difficult to find a place where it is better. But I felt that I needed changes and new goals.
– As a result, you stay in Barcelona …
– Of course, it was not easy for me to make a decision. It was not related to the outcome of the game against Bayern. I have always said that I want to finish my degree here. I have always said that I want to be part of a strong project to continue winning titles with Barcelona. But the truth is, there hasn’t been a project like this in a long time, they just fill in the holes somehow. First of all, I always think of my family and the club.
– How did your family react when you wanted to leave Barcelona?
– When I told this to my wife and children, it was a tragedy for them. My whole family cried, my children did not want to leave Barcelona, change schools. But I didn’t think of that. I want to play at the highest level, win titles, be competitive in the Champions League. You can win or lose, but you always have to be competitive and not allow what happened to us in Rome, Liverpool and Lisbon. All of this made me think of a solution that I finally failed to implement. We go back to the beginning. We trusted that I could go for free, the president always told me. And now it turns out that I did not say about the decision to leave until June 10, when we were still playing in the championship because this shit virus was confusing all the dates. And that’s why I stay at the club … The president says that the only way out is by paying 700 million euros, which is impossible. Another way out is to go to court. I will never go to the pitch against Barça because I love this club, it gave me everything and I gave it everything. It never occurred to me to sue Barcelona.
Many lies have been printed about me. I never wanted to go to court against Barça for profit. I wanted to leave and had the right to do so under my contract. I wanted to leave because I wanted to spend my last years in football happily. In Barcelona I no longer felt happy.
I’m staying at Barcelona and my attitude towards the game is not going to change, no matter how much I want to leave. I’ll play the best I can and give myself completely. I always want to win and I don’t like to lose. I always wish the best for the club, the dressing room and myself. I don’t know what will happen next. There is a new coach with new ideas. This is fine, but let’s see how the team reacts, if it is competitive.
I will give myself completely and we will fight for all the goals. I had a very challenging year, but it does not compare to what people who have had problems with the virus have gone through.
– Burofax. Why did you decide to send it? What do you mean by this?
– I sent it to officially announce my position. I spoke with the president throughout the year about my intention to leave. He replied that we would talk about it, but then nothing happened. I sent burofax to officially notify Barcelona of my intention to leave the club.
They say I had to announce my decision before June 10, but we were in full season. And the president always said he could make a decision after the end of the season, he never specified the date.
