Thread by @BarcaUniversal

Lionel Messi's interview is expected to go live in about 30 minutes. You can follow the quotes under this thread.

Messi: "When I was a kid, I always wished for something related to football for Christmas. A jersey, a ball, shoes - anything. My parents did everything they could to make me happy."

Messi: "There are a lot of athletes that I admire: LeBron, Nadal, Federer. There's Cristiano in football. There are lots of athletes who give their best to succeed."

Messi: "Barcelona is my life. The club gave me everything. I've lived here for longer than in Argentina..."

Messi: "Today I feel okay. It took a while before I started to feel well. I'm eager to fight for the titles that we compete for."

Messi: "It's going to be hard to be where we once were, the club are in a difficult situation. It's difficult for everyone."

Messi: "I don't bother with everything that people say, everyone has their own opinions."

Have you cried recently?

Messi: "I have suffered a lot on the football side of things lately, but I didn't cry because of sports issues. I cried because of other issues, but I prefer not to go into the details."

Messi: "When I first came to Barcelona, I was already shy but I became even shyer. I became a shell. I focused on training, school and my games."

Messi: "When I and my father stayed alone here, he told me; 'Decide what you want, stay here, and go for your dream - or go back to your life in Argentina.' I was clear that I wanted to stay here."

How are you spending the time with your kids?

Messi: "I like being with them. I like it when they ask me to play football or play something related to sports. I like it when they ask me to shower with them, or sleep together with me."

Messi: "When I was a kid, all I could think about was making my dream come true."

Messi: "My kids are addicted to watching YouTube, and using the iPad and TV."

Messi: "Thiago is shy. He doesn't like everyone talking to him, but he gets used to it. Mateo handles it a lot better. He loves all the attention."

Do your kids complain about teachers because they get close to them because of you?

Messi: "Yes, they do. It bothers Thiago a lot since he is a shy kid and doesn't like these kinds of things."

How do you feel about playing in an empty stadium?

Messi: "It's horrible. Everything makes things equal, it is not the same to come to the Camp Nou anymore, since no one is there."

Was your family poor?

Messi: "We weren't poor, but the middle class. We lived well, but not in luxury."

Where were you when you heard about Maradona's death?

Messi: "I was at home... My father told me, and then I saw the news on TV."

What do you think of the crazy calendar?

Messi: "They care about TV contracts and sponsors. They don't think about the players: we are playing on Sunday and Wednesday, and if necessary on Friday and Saturday. We're looking for more economic benefit than the game itself."

Messi: "I couldn't believe Maradona's death."

Messi: "We are footballers; we play and train. I'm not sure if we ever feel like they are taking advantage of us, but we enjoy what we do, at least I do personally."

Do you go to the supermarket?

Messi: "Every now and then, but it's difficult when it's a place with many people."

Where did you get the Maradona shirt from which you were wearing during your tribute to him?

Messi: "I was gifted it by people at The Old Boys."

Maradona was a supporter of Fidel Castro and others, right?

Messi: "I don't want to go into politics."

Messi: "I want the best for my country. I don't like to talk about politics, but I would like things to improve. I want people to be happy."

Messi: "The 2-8 was a horrible game for everyone. We knew it would be a complicated game; we came from a bad run, but you never imagine this result."

Messi: "I'm someone who doesn't like to lose. After a loss, I say or do things as a result of anger, but then I regret everything I said or did."

Messi: "The burofax? I wanted to formalize things and make it official. For the last 6 months, I often told Bartomeu that I wanted to leave but he didn't want to listen to me."

Did you go to a psychologist?

Messi: "I should have gone to one, but I never went. They insisted that I had to go. I know I needed it, but I never went."

Messi: "I felt like a cycle was over. My kids were saying they didn't want to leave, but I felt like it was the best for me."

Messi: "Bartomeu didn’t let me leave and he tried to hurt me by leaking things about me. He tried to make me look like the bad guy in the movie.”

Messi: "Bartomeu lied to me about a lot of things. I don't want to talk about what he promised, and didn't do."

Messi: "I knew that if I went to court to leave, I would have won. But I didn't want to do things that way."

The BarcaGate scandal?

Messi: "I didn't worry much about that. Much more important things have happened at the club."

Messi: "I knew that this would be a transitional season; there were new players and young people, and I thought that it was the right time to leave."

Messi: "For me, Pep is the best. He is a special coach who makes you see things in a different way."

Messi: "Pep and I speak about regular things, how it's going for him at City... nothing else."

Messi: “Koeman is doing a good job. It is difficult because there are a lot of young players, but little by little we are growing."

Tusquets saying he would've sold you?

Messi: "He can only prepare for the elections, but there's no point in talking about the past. Let's talk about the future."

Messi: "I haven't spoken with any candidate yet."

If Xavi becomes the coach will you stay?

Messi: "I don't know, let's see what happens in June."

What about Neymar? Will you stay if he arrives?

Messi: "I don't know as well (laughs). Bringing Ney would be difficult and expensive."

Messi: "Neymar only said he wants to play with me again, not come and play with me."

Messi: "My relationship with Griezmann is clear now. We drink yerba mate together. There are no problems."

Messi: "I always do what my heart tells me to do."

Messi: "I can't tell you about my future because even I don't know about it."

Messi: "I still want to be related to this club and city even after I retire."

Would you move to Real Madrid one day?

Messi: "No way. Impossible."

Messi: "This club is bigger than any player, myself included."

Messi: "If I leave then it will be in the best way possible."

Messi: "Hopefully, the new president can get us back to winning ways and help us lift titles."

Messi: "I don't see myself as a coach, but maybe as a sporting director."

Messi: "Thank you Jordi. It was such a sh*tty year for everyone, and hopefully everything gets better for everyone."

That brings an end to Lionel Messi's interview with La Sexta TV. End of the thread.