A year after asking to leave, Lionel Messi can no longer continue playing for Barcelona despite agreeing a deal.
Barcelona’s financial difficulties made re-signing Lionel Messi impossible. This is in spite of the fact he had agreed to take a 50% pay cut. Such is the extent of their problems, not even a La Liga bailout was enough to make it happen.
It’s likely Lionel Messi will join PSG after 672 goals and 35 major trophies in 21 years at Barcelona.
“I’ve heard a lot of things said about me, that I didn’t want to continue, but on my behalf, we did everything we could because I wanted to stay.”
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“I’m very sad because I didn’t want to leave this club. It’s the club that I love. It’s a moment that I didn’t expect,” said Messi.
“I’ve never lied, I’ve always been honest and up front. Last year I wanted to leave; this year, I didn’t and that’s why I’m so sad.
“I have been here so many years, my entire life here since I was 13. After 21 years, I’m leaving with my wife, with my three little Catalan-Argentine kids.
“We’ve lived in this city and I can’t say that in a few years we won’t come back because this is our home, and I promise my children that.”
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Although he said ‘nothing is confirmed’ yet, Messi will join PSG. Largely because they are the only team who can afford to sign him.
It’s no wonder Barcelona and Real Madrid pushed so hard for the European Super League. When the big teams and La Liga as a whole are in such financial trouble that the face of the league, the best player in history, cannot continue playing there, it’s an indictment of how unsustainable spending in football has become.
