Lionel Messi put an end to the intense hypothesis about his long career on Friday by saying he will remain at Barcelona for a year, but only because he did not need to enter into a legal war with the club on his contract.
Argentina’s six-time global player of the year told the club last month that he wanted to leave, insisting that a clause in his contract allowed him to do so in a flexible transfer.
Barcelona, subsidized through La Liga, insisted that a termination clause of EUR 700 million ($824 million) be paid.
“I wasn’t satisfied and I looked to leave. I have not been allowed to do so under any circumstances and will stay at the club so as not to enter into a legal dispute.Control of the bar run by Bartomeu is a disaster,” Messi told Goal.com.
“There’s some other way and what to go to trial,” he added.”I would never go to the court opposite Barca because it is the club I love, which has given me everything since my arrival.This is the club of my life,” I made my life here.
“Barca gave me everything and I gave it my all.Idea and I was sure I was on the loose to leave.The president said that at the end of the season, I may decide whether to stay or not.Now they cling to the fact that I didn’t say it until June 10, when it turned out that on June 10 we were competing for La Liga in the midst of this lousy coronavirus and this disease has replaced all season.”
The 33-year-old Argentine added: “When I expressed my desire to leave to my wife and children, it was a brutal tragedy.The circle of relatives started to cry, my children didn’t need to leave Barcelona or replace schools.”