“It was hard to leave Barça but I will continue at PSG”

Finished the season with PSG, his first away from the Camp Nou, Messi took the opportunity to review TyC Sports, an important Argentine television channel in which the Argentine has talked about everything.

On his departure from Barça

“In Barcelona I had it all. I was used to having teammates that I played with for many years. It was hard to leave but I will continue at PSG. This year it was difficult for me to enjoy it and I want to do it next season”.

On his adaptation to Paris

“I had no plans to change anything last summer. After the happiness represented by winning the Copa América, she thought that everything would be the same, but what happened happened. The children’s adaptation to their new life was spectacular, but Antonella and I had a harder time. The first day of school for Thiago and Mateo we began to cry because we did not understand anything. They are freaks.”

About his fit at PSG

“I had to get used to another way of playing. I started the league late, I had a strong blow to my knee, and between one thing and another I didn’t finish starting. Then the Christmas holidays came and I passed the COVID. I had a bad time, with a lot of cough, sore throat and fever. It left sequelae in my lungs. I was barely able to run for a month and a half and, despite what they told me, I returned to training early. I rushed in, but I couldn’t take it anymore.”

On criticism from his own fans

“It was something new for me, because in Barcelona it hadn’t happened to me. It’s understandable that people were angry, because we have great players and because it wasn’t the first time something like this had happened to PSG. The most marked were Neymar and I, but it’s over. I prefer to forget it and reverse the situation. Next season I’ll be more prepared, I know the club and my teammates better”.

About the Champions

“I want to win it again. It made me angry not to be in the final, but not always the best one wins it. It is a competition in which specific moments, psychology, are very important. The slightest mistake, as happened to us, leaves you out.”

On Lewandowski’s reproach to Leo

“Everyone is free to say what they want and to express themselves as they see fit. I don’t share what he said – the Pole accused Messi of being false – because when I commented that last season he deserved the Ballon d’Or, I assured him from the bottom of my heart. He had been the best.”

About Benzema

“I think there is no doubt, he had a spectacular year, consecrating himself with the Champions League, being important in all the games. He deserves the Ballon d’Or.”

About the World Cup in Qatar

“Argentina can fight anyone. I’m not saying that we are the great candidate to lift the World Cup, but we are ready. The memory of the Copa América is beautiful after so much suffering, but now there is another challenge on the way. I feel comfortable when we get together in the national team, everything flows, we all know what our role is and what we have to do”.

On the future with Argentina

“My last World Cup? At the moment I think about this and later we will see. Football changes from one day to the next. I find it very difficult to play the next one, but I have nothing clear. Sometimes they kill me because they say I don’t run much, I don’t know how I’m going to be at 38 years old…”

On Aguero’s withdrawal

“We were not aware that what happened was happening. The Kun is a special guy, with a different personality than the rest. Luckily he has taken it well. I imagine that he has suffered and cried in private, with his family, but he has found another way and he looks good. I personally miss him a lot.”

On his tribute to Maradona

“I was at home with Antonella and I told her that she had to do something. In the upper part of the house I have a museum with many things, and next to it there is a door that is always closed. That day it was open. I walked in, and on a chair was the Newell’s number 10 T-shirt. I didn’t even remember I had it. It was perfect. He wasn’t scoring many goals in the last few weeks and the next day, at the Camp Nou, he also made himself wait, but in the end, out of nowhere, he showed up”.