A tearful Lionel Messi confirmed on Sunday he was leaving FC Barcelona after the membership mentioned it might now not afford to pay the Argentine’s excessive wages, including he was in negotiations with French membership Paris St Germain over a doable transfer.
French newspaper L’Equipe reported on Sunday that the Argentine will journey to the French capital both on Sunday or Monday to undertake a medical take a look at and finalise his take care of the Qatar Sports activities Funding-owned membership.
Whereas Messi didn’t verify he would positively be a part of the Parisians, he mentioned his plans have been to hold on enjoying so long as doable, including he nonetheless harbours ambitions to win one other Champions League trophy.
“As long as I go on being competitive and as long as my body responds [I’ll carry on playing],” he instructed a information convention.
“As long as I can, I will carry on competing.”
Humility and respect
“I tried to behave with humility and respect and I hope that is what remains of me when I leave the club,” mentioned an emotional Messi as a whole bunch of followers, many sporting his No. 10 jersey, massed outdoors Barca’s Camp Nou stadium to bid farewell to the participant they referred to as Messiah.
“This is all like a bucket of cold water has been poured over me and we are still coming to terms with it,” he mentioned by way of tears.
“When I get home, I’m sure it’ll be even worse. But I’ll be surrounded by my loved ones and I’ll carry on playing football, and when I do so, I’m sure it’ll become a bit easier.”
Monetary points
It had been extensively reported by native media that Messi was set to remain at Camp Nou, with the participant admitting he had agreed to a five-year deal involving a 50 per cent pay-cut.
Barca, whose money owed complete manner over one billion euros ($1.18 billion), have been unable to make the deal work inside the frameworks of La Liga’s monetary honest play rules — prompting their shock U-turn announcement final Thursday.
“Honestly, when the elections happened [in March], I spoke with [Barca president Joan] Laporta, we had dinner and after that I was convinced I would be staying,” Messi mentioned.
“My contract was never the issue … What I know is that I did everything I could. The club says it could not happen because of La Liga. I can guarantee you that I did everything I could to stay. Last year I didn’t want to and I said that, but this year it was different.”
La Liga introduced final Wednesday that it had secured a personal fairness injection of two.7bn euros from agency CVC, with the funds to be shared amongst the golf equipment in return for 10laptop of the league’s income.
It had been believed this may permit Barcelona to get the Messi deal over the road, nonetheless, after Actual Madrid rejected the proposal and mentioned they might take authorized motion in opposition to La Liga, Barca additionally got here out in opposition to it.
Laporta instructed a information convention on Friday that the league knowledgeable him that accepting this injection was the one manner they might approve a brand new contract for Messi and that he needed to put the long-term pursuits of the membership above any participant.
Report breaker
Messi, 34, who has been on the membership for 21 years, changing into their all-time goalscorer with 682, broke down in tears earlier than giving a speech and was greeted by a prolonged standing ovation from the media, present and former teammates and coaches in attendance.
It was noticeable that he was not accompanied by Laporta or any of the opposite Barcelona administrators throughout the act.
All 35 trophies he gained throughout his time on the membership have been laid out for what the membership described could be a personal picture session after the information convention.
