Statement by Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has talked about his future, confirming that he will remain at Barcelona.
He told Goal:
“When I communicated my wish to leave to my wife and children, it was a brutal drama.
“The whole family started crying, my children didn’t want to leave Barcelona, nor did they want to change schools.
“But I have looked further and I want to compete at the highest level, win titles, compete in the Champions League. You can win or lose, because it’s very difficult, but you have to compete.
“At least compete for this and don’t let us fall apart in Rome, Liverpool, Lisbon. All this led me to think about that decision I wanted to make.”
“I thought and I was sure I was free to leave, the president always said that at the end of the season I could decide whether to stay or not”.
“Now they cling to the fact that I didn’t say this before June 10, when it turns out that on June 10 we were competing for La Liga in the midst of this terrible coronavirus and this disease has changed throughout the season.
“And that is why I will continue in the club. Now I will continue in the club because the president told me that the only way to leave was to pay the 700 million euros (624 million pounds / 823 million dollars) clause, and that this is impossible.
“There was another way and that was to go to trial. I would never go to court against Barca because it is the club I love, which has given me everything since I arrived.
“It’s the club of my life, I built my life here. Barca gave me everything and I gave everything. I know it never crossed my mind to take Barca to court. “
.
