Two months ago, Leo Messi left Barcelona – the one that had been his home – to go to Paris. At a time of changes in the Barça structure, the Argentine star is once again sharing a dressing room with his great friend Neymar. At first settling in the French capital, things were not easy, but now the adaptation is total.
Barcelona, Paris… what change?
The truth is yes. It was a big change that, as I said at the time, I didn’t imagine. Luckily I am already accommodated, the children are already in school, we are more or less installed in the daily routine. We are happy.
It’s been two months since he left Barça. Has the idea already been made?
Yes, even watching the matches generates something or makes me want to. Or I remember events at the Camp Nou, with the people … it’s reliving a little of everything that was. Now I am calmer, I have more assimilated everything and obviously thinking about everything I have here and what will come at the sporting and family level. We are also enjoying this city, which is wonderful despite the weather.
Joan Laporta commented that she thought she would say to play for free, would she have done it if she had been asked?
The truth is that, as I explained in my outing, I did my best to stay, I was never at any time asked to play for free. I was suggested to lower my salary by 50% and I did so without any problems. We were willing to help the club more. The desires and desires of me and my family were to stay in Barcelona. No one asked me to play for free but at the same time it seems to me that the words the president said are out of place. They hurt me because I don’t think you need to say that, it’s like getting the ball over you and not taking on its consequences, or taking charge of things. This makes people think or raises a kind of doubt that I think I don’t deserve.
Have you spoken to President Laporta again?
Nerd.
Do you have a relationship with any of your ex-partners?
Yes. I often talk to Kun Agüero, who was not a companion but is a great friend. With Busquets, with Jordi Alba I continue to keep in touch.
Did you feel the support of your former teammates on your way out of the club? Did any of them disappoint him?
Disappoint me not, because I know them all by heart. Colleagues who expected me to support them did so. It took them by surprise like me. They were by my side and supported me at all times.
What differences have you found between Barça’s club structure and PSG’s?
Barça is a big club, one of the best in the world, with a lot of history. PSG has grown in recent years, continues to grow and still has many chances to do much more. For now, it has the best players in the world and it has a new sports city, which will be crazy.
How are these first months with PSG?
Since I arrived I felt like I had been in the locker room for a long time because I have a lot of acquaintances, people who speak Spanish and it makes the adaptation a lot faster. On a sporting level, it seems like it never just kicks off because I have a game and travel with the national team every month. This makes you not quite accommodate but little by little I am entering the dynamics of the club because beyond the fact that they are two months here, there have not been many games played. I’m still getting used to things.
Have you been through bad times in these two months?
The bad times were in the beginning. It all happened suddenly, coming to Paris, staying a month and a half in the hotel. It was not easy to do with the children, who had already started school. We were in the center of the city and that made the traffic unbearable. It took us an hour to go to school and another hour to go to training. The children could no longer stand in the hotel. That was difficult. At the same time, we tried to enjoy the new experience, of the city, of getting to know a little bit of everything until we came to the new house. This made everything start to get better.
Do you see yourself winning the Champions League with PSG?
Yes. It was one of the main reasons for coming to Paris. Like when I said in my Barcelona farewell that until the last moment I am playing I will try to keep winning things. When he made the decision to sign for PSG that was why he had a great squad. I want to help so that they can continue to grow as a club, to win the Champions League after so many years of trying. That’s why I opted for PSG. And because they are also my goals.
How is your relationship with Neymar and Mbappé?
The truth is that all the costumes are spectacular. Things have been very easy. I have a relationship with Ney for a long time, we kept talking despite not playing together. With Kylian the start was weird because we didn’t know if he was staying or leaving. He was with his things. Luckily we get to know each other better, both on and off the field. We take it spectacularly. There is a good and healthy group in the locker room. The truth is that very well.
How is your experience in the French League? Is it a more physical competition than the Spanish?
I still played a few games. Three in the League and little else. It’s a more physical league, where the matches are divided a lot, there is a lot of going back and forth and there are strong and fast players. On a physical level it changes quite a bit. In Spain all teams try to play much more and can steal your ball if you do not press well. The French are more than once, waiting for you, coming out against you. The biggest difference I’ve seen is on a physical level.
And what do you prefer the French or Spanish style?
I used to be in Barcelona all my life where we had the ball almost every minute in every game. In addition, we handled the rhythms and the times. Historically it was played like this in this club. Today I am adapting to a new team, a new way of playing, a new League. I don’t know if I’m getting better. I try to adapt quickly to what I have today to continue to perform to the fullest and help.
Are you still happy on the field with a ball at your feet?
Obviously. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be competing at this point. I continue to enjoy what I love so much.
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