The highly anticipated interview between Jordi Evole and Lionel Messi was released in it’s entirety last night, and it made things very clear regarding the player’s point of view on the recent issues, as well as the summer transfer saga that he was involved in.
(Transcripts courtesy of AS & Barcacentre on Twitter)
The pair began the interview by speaking about the upcoming holidays and the player’s plans. Evole then asked Messi about his favourite childhood gift on Christmas:
“When I was little, I always asked for something football related. A jersey, a ball, boots… My parents did everything to make me happy.”
“I even remember receiving a ball that was very expensive, the official ball of the league. My father and mother always did their best.”
The interview slowly started to turn towards FC Barcelona, and Messi’s relation with the club:
“This shirt means everything for me, my love for the club, the city, my kids were born here,” said Messi as he signed a Barcelona shirt.
“Barça gave me everything. I’ve lived here for longer than in Argentina…”
“I learned everything here. The club formed me as a player and as a person.”
“The club are in a difficult situation. It’s difficult for everyone. It’s going to be very hard to be where we once were.”
“I’m good now and the episode of the summer is behind me …. the club is having a rough time but I’m full of enthusiasm but the club is in bad shape.”
La Pulga also spoke about moving to the new country as a 13-year-old:
“It was tough, my sister had problems at the time and that made my adaptation more complex. I spoke to my father about the matter and decided that I should stay in Barcelona. I got injured soon after a game and that made things even more complicated.”
“At that time I was shy, like stuck in a shell. I only thought about achieving my dream.”
When asked about his life and privileges, and whether he could run to the supermarket to get some things for the house occasionally:
“Sometimes, but it can be difficult …. I still go to restaurants with the family in Gava and Castelfidels…. I go to the Casanova Beach for example and am good friends with the owner.”
“It’s true…. we do live a privileged life but I’d like at times just to be able to pop out to the market or head to the cinema but that’s impossible. Every time I leave the house with the kids, we’re aware of hundreds of eyes on us.”
Messi also commented on playing in empty stadiums, along with the packed fixture schedule:
“It’s horrible…it’s cold …strange and different …. I think that may have something to do with strange results that we’re seeing with home advantage being less important.”
“One doesn’t think about the athlete. It’s seen more for the economic interest than for the sport or the game.”
The subject of Diego Maradona’s death also came up, and Messi spoke about his reaction, as well as his tribute to the legend:
“I was here at my house and I got a message from my dad. I turned the TV on right away, and i started to find out about everything.”
“The tribute to Maradona? The people of Newell’s gave the shirt to me. That day I knew that I had to score a goal and it was strange. In a play out of nowhere, when I least looked for it, the goal appeared.”
Messi was asked about the summer transfer saga and whether he truly considered leaving the club:
“Yes, it was a manner of making a point and expressing my feelings. It was me telling the club that I wanted to leave”
“It was far from easy for me to say I wanted to leave the club and the city….the family wanted to stay here, this is their home but I genuinely felt it was time to go. Luis Suarez’s departure had nothing to do with the decision but I felt it was crazy the way his exit was handled and that Barcelona let him go to a direct rival.”
Former President Josep Maria Bartomeu was also spoken about in the interview, and Messi said that Bartomeu had been spilling lies about him. The player refrained from further commenting on it.
Messi acknowledged that various lawyers had told him that he would win a legal battle with the club, but it wasn’t what he wanted to put the club through due to their connection. He also commented on people doubting his love for the club:
“Yes, that bothered me … I felt I’d completed a cycle and it was time to leave the club that had given me so much. I wanted to win titles and battle for the Champions League and felt it was time for change. The president then started to filter this and that to paint a negative picture of me.”
The topic of the upcoming Presidential elections was also on the table:
“I am but not sure if I’ll vote in the forthcoming presidential elections. Whoever comes in will find the club in a tricky state and will have to work hard to put the club back where it was. As yet none of the candidates have called me.”
Messi spoke about his future at the club as well, rejecting travel guides from Jordi Evole during the interview:
“I would like to play in the United States and experience life and the league there…. but ultimately come back to Barcelona in some capacity. I’m not thinking too far ahead in the short term and just want to see how the season finishes.”
“I will not negotiate with other clubs. I will wait for the season to end and in June I will decide.”
“If I leave, I would like to leave in the best way and later return to contribute to the club. Barcelona is bigger than any player.”
“After retirement? I would like to be involved in football, not as a coach, I don’t see myself coaching, but maybe as a sporting director.”
