Status: 08.08.2021 12:28 p.m.
Lionel Messi has said goodbye to FC Barcelona. The negotiations failed “completely surprisingly” for him, said the superstar at a press conference. As a future employer, “PSG is an option”.
Messi stepped up to the podium in tears on Sunday (08.08.2021), among the audience were professionals from FC Barcelona such as Gerard Piqué. He is “not ready” to say goodbye now, as the end came as a complete surprise to him, unlike last year. At that time there was a conflict with the club “which I played for practically all my life”. Messi also said: “I would have liked to have said goodbye differently. I would have liked to have done it on the grass, with people. To hear one final applause.”
On Thursday, FC Barcelona announced that negotiations between the club and its Argentine superstar had broken down. The extremely indebted club could not meet the financial demands, mainly because of the requirements of the league. It was La Liga that Messi blamed for the farewell, which he portrayed as having no alternative. The option of foregoing money was initially not discussed during the seemingly bizarre press conference.
Allegedly waiver of 50 percent salary
Messi then said that he had agreed to forego 50 percent of his salary. Reports that the association had called for a further 30 percent reduction are wrong. Messi’s gross salary is said to have been 140 million euros before he allegedly gave up.
According to FC Barcelona, he has received “a number of calls” from clubs interested in him. Paris Saint-Germain is the favorite, and according to media reports, the 34-year-old Messi has already opted for the Qatar-funded club from the French capital. “PSG is an option,” Messi said of the speculation.
Source: sportschau.de