Messi in Tears During Barcelona Press Conference -By Shereefdeen Sawe

Former Barcelona captain Lionel Messi could not hold back tears at his last press conference as FC Barcelona player. 

The six-time Ballon D’or winner gave his touching farewell words in Camp Nou, having been in the club for  21 years, Lionel has officially and finally ceased to be in the squad of the Catalan giants, the moment he described as “most difficult”. 

Though the Argentine had faced huge debacles and catastrophes as a player of the club, he said leaving Barcelona is the ” most difficult moment in my career”. 

Barcelona could not renew Messi’s contract due to financial and structural obstacles placed by La Liga rules, and now  PSG have opted to be the favourite suitor for the former player captain. 

Part of the press conference reads: 

Question – So what now, where are you going? PSG?

Messi: “PSG is one possibility. But I can not confirm anything with you. Right now, nothing is closed. But we are talking about a lot of things.”

Messi: “Barcelona are one of the best clubs in the world. More players will come, not just now but in the future. Ase Laporta said this club is more important than a single person. At first, it will be weird, but people will get used to it.”

Messi “I grew up here with humility and respect, and would like for people to remember me for that, as well as what I did on the pitch.”Messi: “There’s no going back. This is the end here.”

Messi: “Barcelona are one of the best clubs in the world. More players will come, not just now but in the future. As Laporta said, this club is more important than a single person. At first, it will be weird, but people will get used to it.”

Question: ‘Would you want to come back to Camp Nou in the future for a proper farewell with the fans?’
Messi: “Yes, but honestly, it wouldn’t be the same. The moment is now, but, for these people, I’m available for anything.”

Messi: “For these fans I’m willing to do anything and yes, I would like to come back in the future and have a tribute.”

Question – How will you feel when you have to face Barça?
Messi: “The people in Barça know me. They know I am a good player and that I love competing. I would fight to win everything, just like I did here. I will finish the last years in my own way: competing for titles.”

Messi: “The photo with the PSG players? It was a coincidence. It was all just a joke.”

Question: How many more years can you play?

Messi: “I don’t know, it depends on how I feel each season and how my physical condition is.” 

Messi: “We could have achieved at least one more Champions League. One of my goals is to win the Champions League again and more titles.”

Messi: “I offered to reduce my contract by 50%. They didn’t ask me to do anything else. I did everything that I got asked to do.”