Lionel Messi has explained the part Liverpool played in his decision to hand in a transfer request at Barcelona while also declaring that he will stay at the Camp Nou.
The Argentinian superstar has been embroiled in an ongoing transfer saga after handing in a request to leave the Catalan giants late last month.
He has now explained how his experience during the 4-0 defeat at Anfield against the Reds was a factor in him making up his mind to leave the club he has been at for the last 20 years, though a difficult situation arose in the aftermath of that decision meaning the attacker will now stay with his beloved Barca.
“When I communicated my wish to leave to my wife and children, it was a brutal drama,” Messi explained to Goal.
“The whole family began crying, my children did not want to leave Barcelona, nor did they want to change schools.
“But I looked further afield and I want to compete at the highest level, win titles, compete in the Champions League.
"You can win or lose in it, because it is very difficult, but you have to compete.
“At least compete for it and let us not fall apart in Rome, Liverpool, Lisbon.
"All that led me to think about that decision that I wanted to carry out."
“I'll continue at Barcelona and my attitude won't change - no matter how much I have wanted to go," Messi added.
"I told the club, the president, that I wanted to go. I've been telling him all year.
"I thought my time in Barcelona was over, sadly - I always wanted to finish my career here.
"It was a very difficult year, I suffered a lot in training, in games and in the dressing room.
"The president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I wanted to go or if I wanted to stay and in the end he did not end up keeping his word."
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