Superstar Lionel Messi speaks openly in a TV interview about his upcoming departure from Barca and the background.
In the summer, Lionel Messi shocked Barca fans and caused a tremendous tremor in the football world. He informed his heart club via fax that he wanted to leave the club. Best for free. Because the release clause required for this in the contract had already expired at this point, no one could afford the fixed transfer fee of 700 million euros, the Argentine should go into the season with the Catalans. In his last?
Messi’s contract expires next summer. He can choose his next station. At Paris Saint-Germain, Mauricio Pochettino is about to sign as coach and successor to Thomas Tuchel. He is said to have put his compatriot Messi at the top of the shopping list. Ex-Barca coach Pep Guardiola would also like to bring the “magic flea” to Manchester City. In any case, there is no shortage of top-class interested parties.
Open words
Messi caused a stir again on Sunday. The 33-year-old gave a candid TV interview in which he talked for an hour about his last months at Barca, the famous fax and his future. In an hour of conversation, Messi said, among other things, that he does not regret having submitted his request to move.
His explanation: “I wanted to express my feelings. I was telling the club that I want to leave. That I have come full circle and that I want to leave the club that has given me so much.”
Messi continues: “I wanted to win titles and fight for the Champions League and I thought it was time for something else. The president (Josep Maria Bartomeu, note) then started turning it around so that it had a negative image of I drew. It was anything but easy to make up my mind. The family wanted to stay here. But I really thought to myself: It’s time to go. “
He accuses the Barca leadership of having sold his buddy Luis Suarez. But: “His departure had nothing to do with my decision. But it’s crazy how it was handled and that Barca let him go to a direct rival. He moved for free. They paid him off and him for the remaining years of the contract sent to a team that has the same goals as us. Unbelievable. “
About PSG star Neymar, who would like to guide Messi to Paris, Messi said: “I speak to Luis every day. The last conversation with Neymar was after the round of 16 draw. Let’s see what happens. The club is going through a difficult one Time, also financially, so it will be difficult to get Neymar back. ” The Brazilian superstar wanted to thread his return to Barca in the recent past, the club could not financially realize the transfer. In the meantime, reunification on Spanish soil is as good as impossible. In his interview, Messi avoided the possibility that he could play alongside Neymar in Paris next year. The two top clubs meet in the second round of the premier class.
Back to Spain. Messi could have won his free transfer there. At least that’s how he sees it himself. Messi put it plainly: “I knew if we’d gone to court we would have won. Not just one lawyer told me that, a lot of them did. But I didn’t want to leave Barca that way.”
But now his focus is on the upcoming tasks with Barca. In La Liga, the gap to leaders Atletico is already nine points. In the Champions League, as already mentioned, last year’s finalist Paris is waiting in the round of the last 16. Messi is certainly thinking about his future station. After all, he will be able to negotiate a preliminary contract with other clubs from January. So he skilfully avoided answering whether he might end up in France or England.
He only revealed one thing: “I would like to play in the US and eventually return to Barcelona in a role.” But he does not yet know whether something will come of it. “I don’t want to think too far ahead. Let’s just wait for the end of this season.”
City coach Guardiola can at least look forward to a special praise. Commenting on their successful time at Barcelona, Messi said: “The way he prepares players for matches is exceptional. The work under Luis Enrique was also excellent. I was lucky to be able to work with both of them.”
