BARCELONA : Between trying to compose himself, wiping away tears and facing a long standing ovation, it took Lionel Messi more than a minute to start his farewell news conference on Sunday at FC Barcelona, where the Argentine has spent all of his playing career.
"I don't know if I am going to be able to speak," were his first words, tears running down his cheeks.Messi, 34 and with Barcelona for 21 years, went on to mop away tears throughout the event, using a tissue handed to him by his wife Antonella Roccuzzo, who was in the front row with their three children."I have grown up in the club and I became the man I am here... I feel very sad that I have to leave this club, this club that I love.
He said, however, he wanted to carry on competing and winning titles"as long as I can", and was talking to Paris St Germain about a potential contract. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner has had tearful outbursts in the past, after Barcelona's stunning 3-2 defeat to Chelsea in the semi-final of the Champions League in 2012, which left him prostrated on the pitch and crying, or losing the 2016 Copa America final for Argentina against Chile.
Tears marked his emotional goodbye to his Barca team mate Andres Iniesta who left the club in 2018, and he also cried, this time with joy, when Argentina won the Copa America last month by defeating Brazil 1-0.But the Argentine's deal would have taken salaries to 110per cent of the club's earnings, even after he agreed to a 50per cent pay cut.
so sad for aguero and depay .. kena FFK... 🤣
This is so heartbreaking 😭
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