• Messi football, a matter of life and death at Barça: "Survival passed through his departure"

  • Messi-Laporta opinion: it was all a farce, by Francisco Cabezas

Leo Messi could hardly speak. He had to wipe his tears several times and blow his nose, until he managed to link a speech he did not count on. "Until the last day I was thinking about what I could say. This is very difficult for me after so many years. To do all my life here. I was not prepared," the former Barça captain started, before the gaze of his teammates , excited, in the seats of the press room. There was also Joan Laporta, the president of Barça, who could not prevent his departure.

The Argentine was very sorry for a march that did not fit into his plans. Not this season, after everything that happened last summer. "Last year, with the burofax mess, I was prepared, but not this year. I was convinced that we were going to continue. We always put our own well-being first, being at home and staying in Barcelona, ​​which is wonderful in sports and everyday, "he admitted. "I feel very sad because I have to go from a club that I love. I always went straight ahead, telling the truth. This year I did not want to leave, hence the sadness," he was sincere.

"Today I have to say goodbye to this, I arrived very young, at the

age of 13.

I am leaving with my wife, with three Catalan-Argentines. I have promised her that after a few years we will be away, because this is our home. For my part, I never cheated people, "he remembered, looking back.

"I always tried to handle myself with humility, respect and I did so with everyone in this house. I hope this is what remains of me, apart from what I gave him. I went through things and all that made me grow and continue to improve to be the person I am today. I am more than satisfied ", he continued, admitting that, surely, this has been the most difficult moment of his sports career.

"People will get used to it"

The farewell, obviously, is not the one dreamed by any footballer. Without the warmth of the public, after a year and a half of pandemic, which left the

Camp Nou

in silence

. "I want to thank the people for their affection, I never imagined my farewell because I did not think so. I would have liked to do it with people in the field and have heard one last ovation. I missed them a lot: being able to have them close, chanting my name ... I would have imagined with the stadium full and saying goodbye to them. We have had good times and bad times, but the affection was always the same. I hope I can return at some point, "he added.

Leo ruled out still having a closed destiny, despite the fact that

PSG

, where his friends Neymar or Di María play, seems the best placed to have him.

"At this time I have nothing arranged with anyone. There are interested clubs and yes we are talking, obviously."

And on the future of Barcelona without him, in the same vein as Joan

Laporta

, he admitted: "The club is always more important than anyone else and people will get used to it. At first it will be strange, great players came and they have a great squad ".

Messi refused to make any criticism of

Javier Tebas

, president of LaLiga.

"It was not possible because of the League, because of the club's debt, because the club did not want to go into debt any more. I have nothing to say to

Javier Tebas

. The times I ran into him, a couple of times, we had a cordial greeting."

And he settled: "I did everything possible to stay, but it was not possible."

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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