Lionel Messi has opened up on the disillusionment at Barcelona that led to him handing in a transfer request this summer.
Messi, 33, has taken the decision to stay at the club for the remaining year of his contract following two days of talks between the president and his father and agent Jorge. However, Barcelona were right to be worried that their star asset and one of the best players in the game wanted to leave.
In a punchy interview accompanying his decision to stay at the club, the forward made it clear that his decision in part came down to the complete unwillingness of Barcelona to keep their word that he could leave - and his own unwillingness to take the club that he loves to court in order to escape for a new challenge.
However, he also spoke of how difficult the last few weeks have been for his family as they considered a move away.
“When I communicated my wish to leave to my wife and children, it was a brutal drama," he told Goal. “The whole family began crying, my children did not want to leave Barcelona, nor did they want to change schools.
“My son, my family, they grew up here and are from here. There was nothing wrong with wanting to leave. I needed it, the club needed it and it was good for everyone.”
“All this time it has been hard for everyone. I was clear about what I wanted, I have said what I felt I wanted. My wife, with all the pain of her soul, supported and accompanied me. Mateo is still little and he doesn't realise what it means to go somewhere else and make your life a few years elsewhere.
“Thiago yes, he is older. He heard something on TV and found out something and asked. I didn't want him to know anything about being forced to leave, to have to live in a new school, or make new friends.
“He cried to me and said ‘let's not go’, I repeat that it was hard, really. It was understandable. It happened to me. It is very difficult to make a decision.
“I love Barcelona and I'm not going to find a better place than here anywhere. Still I have the right to decide. I was going to look for new goals and new challenges. And tomorrow I could go back, because here in Barcelona I have everything.
Manchester City were at the front of the queue to sign the player, but have been enforced spectators as the saga of whether Messi could leave or not played out. With hopes of bringing Messi to the Etihad over for another year City still expect to sign another central defender in the transfer window, while further additions cannot be ruled out.
