Lionel Messi dropped the biggest hint yet that he could stay at Barcelona in an upcoming interview with Spanish media

Advertisement
Lionel Messi dropped the biggest hint yet that he could stay at Barcelona in an upcoming interview with Spanish media
Will he stay or will he go?Getty/TF Images
  • Lionel Messi has seemingly dropped the biggest hint yet that he may not leave Barcelona after all.
  • In an upcoming interview on Spanish TV, Messi will reportedly say that he is "excited" by what is happening at Barcelona right now.
  • Messi's possible departure from Spain has been one of the biggest stories in football in 2020.
  • He submitted a transfer request in the summer, but ultimately backed down when faced with the prospect of going to court.
Advertisement

Lionel Messi has seemingly dropped his biggest hint yet that he may ultimately decide not to leave Barcelona at the end of this season, following months of speculation over his future fueled by the imminent end of his contract.

In an upcoming interview with Spanish TV network La Sexta, Messi reportedly described himself as "really excited" for the future at Barcelona, according to a segment of the interview broadcast by Catalan radio network RAC 1 on Monday.

"The truth is that as of today, I'm good," Messi said, according to a translation of the RAC 1 clip by the English language version of Spanish sports newspaper AS.

"Right now, I'm good, and I'm keen to really fight for everything we've got in front of us. I'm excited. Really excited."

Messi's contract with Barcelona comes to an end following the 2020-2021 soccer season, and from January, he is free to speak to other clubs about signing for them.

Advertisement

The Argentinian star submitted a transfer request in the summer amid a rift with the club's administration and poor performance on the pitch. He ultimately withdrew his transfer request when Barcelona refused to let him leave the club for free, but still looked almost certain to leave either through a transfer deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars or as a free agent next season.

However, Monday's reports in Spain are the strongest evidence yet that Messi could change his mind and stay with the club he has played for since he was a teenager.

"I know the club is going through a difficult period, in terms of the administration and the team, and it makes everything around Barcelona difficult, but I'm keen," he continued, according to AS.

Messi acknowledged during the interview with journalist Jordi Evole that he was unhappy with both the team's performance and his own standing at the club during the summer.

"It's true I had a terrible time in the summer, though it started before that. What I went through before the summer, with the end to the season and the burofax and all of that," he said, referencing the letter he sent requesting a transfer.

Advertisement

The forward added in his interview with La Sexta that his negative feelings "carried over a little bit into the start of the season."

Messi's future has been the subject of intense speculation since the initial transfer request, with reports suggesting he could move either to Paris Saint Germain or Manchester City, the two richest teams in football.

His future is also a major issue in the coming election for FC Barcelona's next president. Previous chief Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned earlier in the year, and several candidates are vying to take the reins.

Last week, candidate Emili Rousaud said that the Argentine's current pay packet is "unsustainable" and warned he might have to leave the club regardless if he doesn't take a pay cut.

"We'll have to sit down with Messi and ask him to make a salary cut," Rousaud told Catalan newspaper ARA. Messi is reported to earn close to 500,000 euros ($610,000) per week.

Advertisement

Messi's full interview will be broadcast by TV network La Sexta on December 27.

{{}}