An emotional Lionel Messi has revealed he expected to extend his stay at Barcelona.
It was announced on Thursday the six-time Ballon d’Or winner would not sign a new contract with his boyhood club, with president Joan Laporta saying a day later that the former regime at Barca in addition to LaLiga spending rules had thwarted any hopes of the Argentinian staying in Catalonia.
Speaking at his farewell press conference on Sunday morning, a tearful Messi got a standing ovation after speaking.
He said: “This year, my family and I were convinced we were going to stay at home, that’s what we all wanted more than anything.
“We’d always made this our own, we were at home. We thought we would be staying here in Barcelona. But today, we have to say goodbye to all of this.”
The 34-year-old, who has been heavily linked with a move to Paris St Germain, had been set to remain at the Nou Camp but is now a free agent.
He added: “I did everything possible and the club, Laporta, they couldn’t do it because of LaLiga.
“I’ve heard things said about me, that I didn’t want to continue, but on my life, we did everything we could because I wanted to stay.
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“Last year, I didn’t want to stay and I said it; this year, I wanted to stay and we couldn’t.”
PSG appears the most likely next destination for Messi and while he confirmed that joining the French giants was a possibility, he insisted nothing was yet agreed.
He said: “That’s honestly one possibility, to reach those heights, but I’ve got nothing confirmed with anybody.
“When the press release was published, I had a lot of calls and a lot of clubs were interested.
“At the moment, I’ve not got anything closed, but we are talking about a lot of things.”
Messi confirmed he had agreed to take a 50 per cent wage cut during negotiations over a new deal.
He said: “I offered to reduce my salary by 50 per cent and they didn’t ask me for anything else.
“The news that I’d asked for 30 per cent more is a lie. We did everything we could and it wasn’t possible.”
10 Comments
One of the greatest, if not actually the greatest. All football lovers love you @ Lionel Messi.
No matter how interesting a game is, once it is full time the referee will end the game. Soldier come and soldier go.
Why will csn now use the picture with caption ” the goat in tear”
Definitely this is coming from one agreive baca fan. But should csn now use the picture for their own publication.
He is crying partly because of the uncertainty outside Barcelona….Now he will have to prove to the world that he can do great things outside Barcelona.
Akp… Very least comment.
It’s okay Messi. You have done well for Barcelona.
“Last year, I didn’t want to stay and I said it; this year, I wanted to stay and we couldn’t.” That is the definition of life for we human beings. Only God have the final say. Man proposed, God disposed It’s time to go Messi.
I am proud of you and you have nothing to prove to no one.
However, I hope NFF is watching? I hope Amaju is reading this today?
If Messi could leave Barcelona upon all the trophies he has won with the club, why did NFF sign such a 419 contract with Oga Rohr?
We can see now that not only president Buhari is the problem of Nigeria but Nigerians are the problem of Nigeria.
Everybody is fighting for is pocket.
Is the coach moving the Super Eagles forward or backward? I don’t know. We are watching though.
I wish you the best Messi. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Emotional Messi, I have come to like your personality a genieu, guy who doesn’t joke with his word, dedicated to the club who helped you be who you are now. It is well life have to move on. Destiny is already speaking wish you well in your new club. Baca will miss you even laliga
Mad man he must mention Rohr in every of his comment
This is how we should have made Messi cry at the 2018 world cup. If we had eliminated them, he would have cried a bucketful for Argentina. Maybe we can finally make him cry at Qatar 2022. But we have to qualify first.
Messi leaving Barcelona…..wow. Anyway, he did great there. I think Barca will struggle for a while without him. He has been carrying them on his back for a long, long time. Messi’s departure from Barca is like taking a walking stick away from an old man.
As for PSG, they will be the team to beat in all competitions now. With Messi, Neymar, Mbappe and Di Maria, I think PSG is the new GALACTICO SQUAD. Teams will pee their pants when they take to the pitch against PSG.
Mbappe was rumored to be on his way to Los Merengues. I doubt that will happen now. Surely, Mbappe will not want to miss out on the fun of playing with Messi, Neymar and Di Maria! The FEARSOME FOURSOME will be a delight to watch.
Barcelona is becoming ordinary team at least for a period of time. No replaceable talent. But the club has culture of greatness.