Lionel Messi, the former captain of the Barcelona first football team, bid farewell to his Catalan club after 17 years within its walls, in which he won many titles, whether collective or individual.
Barcelona announced a few days ago that Messi will officially leave the Camp Nou castle due to the impossibility of registering him due to the great financial crisis that the Catalan giant suffers from.
According to the European press, the Argentine international will move to Paris Saint-Germain, who will offer Messi a contract for two seasons in addition to an optional extra year with an annual salary of 40 million euros.
Messi’s farewell to Barcelona
Messi: “In recent days I have been thinking a lot about what to say but I don’t know what to say, what happens after all these years in Barcelona is difficult.”
He continued: “I wanted to stay, and that’s what my family wanted too, and we are still in Barcelona, I thought this would happen, but I have to say goodbye to this wonderful club and this wonderful city.” . ”
He pointed out: “It is time to say goodbye, I have been here in Barcelona for many years since I was thirteen years old, and after more than 20 years I and my family will leave, but I will return even if I leave now and I will return here one day.”
“I am leaving now without listening to the Barcelona fans chanting my name after everything that happened last year (Coronavirus), it is very painful to leave without seeing them,” he added.
He continued: “I would have liked the Camp Nou stadium to be full, but this would not pass through the epidemic, and I would leave the club without seeing them, but I hope to be part of the club again in the future.” ”
He said: “I gave everything for this club and defended the shirt strongly, I just wanted to say goodbye to the fans in another way, I always dreamed of saying goodbye to them on the field.”
He added: “Last year I wanted to leave and this is what I already expressed, but this year I wanted to stay in Barcelona, but I could not continue. All negotiations with Laporta ended successfully, but he told me.” It’s difficult and he can’t sign the contract because of the La Liga rules.”
He continued: “I cannot accept my departure from Barcelona at the moment, because I will completely change my life. The club did everything in its power to renew the contract, but they could not, and they told me that the reason was the Spaniard. Liga.”
And about Paris Saint-Germain: “One of the options I have, but I cannot confirm that at the moment, there is a possibility, there are other clubs, but I have not agreed with any club.”
And Messi continued: “I did everything I could to stay in Barcelona, but in the end we could not do that, because the administration told me that the reason was the rules of the Spanish League, it is the most difficult moment.” In my football career after the history I achieved here and the titles I won.”
He explained: “There is no turning back, this is my end here as a footballer, but Barcelona is still the biggest club in the world.”
On the negotiations with Laporta: “I had lunch with him after his success in the elections as president of FC Barcelona, and we talked about my continuity and my contract did not present any problem, and I had no doubts about my survival.”
And on the Barcelona fans: “I’m ready to do anything for these fans and come back with them in the future, that’s for sure. I’ve always been frank and honest with them and I’ve never cheated on them.”
When asked if Tebas and his rules in the Spanish League were the reason, he replied: “I do not know the real reason and what happened in the negotiations with them, but the club did not accept some of the conditions that it imposed.” La Liga, so they couldn’t sign my contract.”
And about facing Barcelona in the future: “It will be very difficult, but everyone knows my mentality. I will continue to give everything I have because I love to compete for titles.”
And his photo with the Paris Saint-Germain players: “It was just a coincidence at the end of my summer vacation with my friends, Neymar invited me and Rakitic was there too and they were joking with me about my coming to PSG.”
As for his physical condition: “I do not suffer from any injuries at the moment, and I hope to continue at the best possible level in the coming period, and I will continue as much as I can, and I must focus on my future in the ‘present moment’.”
He added: “It was not in my hands to continue, the club is in debt, as Laporta said, and I did everything in my power to stay, but the situation would be disastrous for them if they renewed me.
On his future goals: “I still dream of winning the Champions League again, reaching the number of titles Dani Alves and even breaking his number, and I congratulate him on winning the Olympics and reaching the most title-winning player. I dreamed of doing it with Barcelona, but I will not continue here.”
He concluded: “I don’t feel betrayed by anyone, they all tried and I was with them, but in the end we could not reach what we aspire to, which is renewal. I was always clear with everyone, especially with our fans.”
Messi sale a dar su conferencia de prensa totalmente quebrado. Momento increíble. pic.twitter.com/VyjK1aWuFU
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) August 8, 2021