Lionel Messi says ‘various clubs’ expressed interest in signing him after it was confirmed he would be leaving and concedes ‘it is a possibility’ that he will join PSG.
Speaking at his Barcelona farewell press conference, Messi said he could join the French club, who are the frontrunners to secure his signature, while confirming that ‘nothing was agreed’.
Messi spent more than two decades at Barcelona, scoring 672 goals in 778 matches and winning four UEFA Champions Leagues and six Ballon d’Or awards.
Despite establishing himself as Barcelona’s greatest player and one of the best of all time, Messi is leaving the Spanish club ‘because of financial and structural obstacles’.
Asked whether he will join PSG after his exit from Barca, an emotional Messi said: ‘It is a possibility, but as of today there is nothing agreed with anyone.
‘When the statement came out, I had many calls, various clubs were interested. But I have nothing closed yet. But we are talking.’
On the possibility of facing Barcelona next campaign, Messi added: ‘Well the people in Barca know me, they know I’m a good player, they know I like competing. I’ll fight to win everything.
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‘The last years of my career, I’m going to finish it in my way, competing, fighting for titles, end my career on a high. That’s my mentality, and that’s what it always was in this club.
‘I want to win. There’s no doubt that I will go to a team that will possibly compete with this club.
‘I didn’t want to leave, I wanted to stay, but I have to and now I need to continue down my path of competing and winning.’
While PSG is the likely destination for Messi, Manchester City were linked with a move for the player last summer, while Chelsea have reportedly asked to be kept up to date with his movements.
Messi added: ‘My family and I were convinced that we were going to stay here at home, that’s what we all wanted more than anything.
‘We’ve made this our home and we thought we would be staying in Barcelona.
‘The time I’ve had here has been amazing but today I have to say goodbye to all of this. I’ve been here so many years, my entire life since I was 13.’
