What was with that “but”?
In Lionel Messi’s recent interview with SPORT, he gave a statement that is pretty easily translated to English. “Barça is my home,” Messi said, “I don’t want to leave but I want to play in a winning team.” The ‘but’ here is what has people talking as Kevin Williams eloquently lays out in The Barcelona Football Blog. Years ago there were rumors that Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s deep pockets could potentially persuade the Argentinian legend to move to England. Those rumors have since died down and it does propose its own question. What teams can afford Messi’s contract or at least most of it? Manchester City, PSG, Manchester United, Real Madrid. That’s about it.
Then what is with the rumor this week about Messi being courted by David Beckham and his new MLS franchise, Inter Miami? That rumor came from Spain, not the United States, so maybe there is something to Beckham barking up that tree. It doesn’t mean that Messi entertained it though. He has long said that he could end his career back home in Argentina at Newell’s Old Boys, but he has also said that he prioritizes his family’s happiness. Modern football has a lot of drama, especially when Messi says that word ‘but’, BUT Messi is a man that rarely speaks and has always found a way to sidestep that drama.
Messi wants Neymar the player
Messi enjoyed playing with Neymar; hard to deny that. They scored goals together. They won a treble together. He took the young Brazilian under his wing when he came to Europe. Messi speaks about Neymar with admiration as a footballer more than anything else. There is conjecture as to how involved Messi was, and this interview gave some clarity. Messi forgave his friend for the way he left and tells fans that what Neymar brings on the field will rectify that. For all those saying that Messi pulls the strings as LeBron James is always accused of, his honesty about being in the dark regarding Neymar negotiations should make people put away the red string – at least until January.
Messi needs to be impressed
Messi makes it perfectly clear that his goals are to win everything possible. Everything in his words since becoming captain indicate that. He reiterated that in this interview when speaking about both Ousmane Dembélé and the new additions to the squad. Messi believes the Dembélé has another level to get to (as do most Culés) and he says that the only way to figure out whether or not the squad has improved this season is by the success they have on the field.
He doesn’t give any answers that would surprise, particularly when he takes responsibility for Anfield and absolves Ernesto Valverde of a lot of blame. Yet, there is a sincerity in his voice that tells you that he believes a lot of the “coach speak” answers that he provides.
