Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has changed his mind about leaving La Liga giants Barcelona. Despite recently informing the club that he wants out, Messi now told Goal.com in a video interview on Friday that he’ll be staying at Camp Nou.
Messi and his representatives previously attempted to terminate his contract with Barca, claiming that the exit clause in the deal allows the 33-year-old forward to leave for free at the end of the season. The Spanish club, on the other side, argued that the clause was valid only until the end of June and said that the only way he can leave is if someone pays his $700 million release clause.
Since La Liga sided with Barca, Messi would have to pursue his rights via legal actions. After thinking things over, he ultimately decided he doesn’t want to go down that route.
“I would never go to court against Barca because it is the club that I love, which gave me everything since I arrived,” Messi told Goal. “It is the club of my life, I have made my life here. Barca gave me everything, and I gave it everything. I know that it never crossed my mind to take Barca to court.”
In the interview, Messi also talked about several other topics, including his frustration with failures this past season. Check it out below.
Lionel Messi has one year left on his contract and is set to become a free agent next summer. It remains to be seen whether he decides to say goodbye to Barca then or the club manages to convince him to sign an extension.
Barca is scheduled to enter the 2020/21 season with a re-built roster with several veterans, including Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic leaving the club. The Catalan powerhouse also made a change in the managerial position, hiring former club legend Ronald Koeman.
