Messi reveals how close he was to new Barcelona deal

Robin Bairner

9 Oct 2021 08:27 BST
3 min read

Lionel Messi says that he thought signing a new Barcelona contract this season would be a formality before his world was turned upside down with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

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Messi was out of contract with Barca in the summer and had been expected to stay on at the club. Indeed, he had even agreed terms to a new deal.

However, financial complications from the club’s side meant that was not possible and for the first time in his career he was forced to depart.

I thought that everything was settled and that all that was missing was my signature on the contract

- Lionel Messi

Messi says that it came as a tremendous shock to him.

“Frankly, I didn’t expect it at all,” he told France Football before going on to explain the circumstances of the move, which came about after he had won the Copa America with Argentina.

“I came back to Barcelona to prepare for the season, having taken advantage of the few extra days of vacation that the coach had granted me.

Lionel Messi makes his first PSG start against Club Brugge — © ProShots

“I had the idea to sign my contract and resume training immediately. I thought that everything was settled and that all that was missing was my signature on the contract.

“But, when I arrived in Barcelona, I was told that it was no longer possible, that I could not stay and that I had to find myself another club, because Barca did not have the money to extend my deal. It turned my plans upside down.”

Messi on PSG move

Messi, who is Barcelona’s record appearance maker and goal scorer, says he is pleased to be with Paris Saint-Germain.

“I received other proposals, but I must admit that we reached an agreement fairly quickly with PSG,” he said. “Discussions began and it was not easy because everything had to be settled in a short time, practically overnight, when it was a very difficult operation to complete, given the circumstances.

“I was obviously seduced by the project, the ambitions of the club, the players at the club’s disposal, the group ... All these elements made it easier to find an agreement quickly.”

Messi recently netted his first PSG goal against Manchester City in the Champions League while Barcelona are struggling to qualify for the knockout stages of that competition after losses to Bayern Munich and Benfica.