Thread by @TheEuropeanLad

Messi: “When I was a child, I always asked Santa for something linked with football. A ball, a jersey, football boots. My parents did everything to try to make me happy.”

Messi: “There are many other athletes that I admire: LeBron, Nadal, Federer. In every sport I have someone I admire.”

Messi: “Or Cristiano, when it comes to football.”

Messi: “Barcelona is my entire life. I lived everything here, more than in Argentina. I have a love relationship with this club and with this city.”

Messi: “Today, I feel fine. It did took a while before I started to feel like this again. I want to fight for all titles that we compete for. But.. it’s difficult, for everyone. The club is in a really bad financial situation. It will be hard to return where we once were.”

Messi: “A lot people talk without knowing anything. People believe them because they are the ones who bring the news on TV or in the papers. “RMC” is a media-outlet who talked a lot of false stuff.”

Messi: “My children like to watch Dragon Ball Z or Pokémon. I never called Bartomeu “Nobita”, others did, haha.”

Messi: “My life is normal, sometimes just boring. I get up, make breakfast, take the kids to school, train, and then go back home.”

Messi: “I am a privileged person for everything I have experienced and for everything I live. But sometimes I want to be anonymous, sometimes I would like to go see a movie anonymously, or go to a restaurant.”

Messi: “Playing in a empty stadium is horrible, everything feels very cold, the feeling it gives me is very bad. Everything is different and you can see it back in the results.”

Messi: “I couldn’t believe it when Maradona died, I got the message from my father and turned on the TV. Nobody is able believe that Diego is dead and that he is no longer with us. It’s terrible, and it’s odd."

Messi: “Every day wanting to show that I am the best? I don’t think about this. I just want my team to win.”

Messi: “I have never spoken with a psychologist. I should have been, but I never have and I don’t know why. Antonella insists! But I struggle to take the step even though I know I need it. But I am someone who prefers to keep it all in.”

Messi: “The burofax? I wanted to formalize things, I wanted to make it official. I told the President so many times that I wanted to leave, but he just refused to listen to me.”

Messi: “I just wanted to get away. The president didn’t let me 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: “The decision to do this was horrible, and of course I thought about the fans. It wasn’t easy to let the people know I wanted to leave the city, the club…”

Messi: “The departure of Suárez? It didn’t change anything because I wanted to leave before. But it just made me mad the way they dealt with it. He left for free to a rival club. It wasn’t his departure that disturbed me, it was the way how.”

Messi: “Bartomeu has cheated on me so many times. I can not tell you the things that he promised me, but I can tell you that he lied to me many times over the course of many years.”

Messi: “If we went to court, we would have won. But I would have won from the club, and I couldn’t attack my own club.”

Messi: “Yes, I spoke to Pep (Guardiola). We spoke about how things were in Manchester, and how things are going here. For me, he is the greatest coach.”

Messi: “I decide for the dressing room? This is being said for so many years now, even at the National Team. I feel embarrassed when I hear this. And people actually believe this too, as if I’m the one who decides who we sign or play. It’s so far away from reality.”

Messi: “With Koeman we arrived back with a clear plan and I think he is doing good. There are many young players and the team is growing.”

Messi: “Do I have a favorite candiate (president). No, people will start saying that I control the club again.”

Messi: “Will I stay if the next president tells me that Xavi will coach us? Haha.. we will see. We have to finish the season first and in June I will see. I still don’t know.”

Messi: “I will not negotiate with any club until the season is over and until I have decided.”

Messi: “I always had the dream to live in America, and to play there.”

Messi: “After my retirement, I want to continue living the rest of my life in Barcelona.”

Messi: “Leaving for Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid? Impossible.”

Messi: “Barcelona is bigger than any player, including myself.”

6 minute break ⏳⌛

Messi: “I don’t see myself getting involved in football after I retire, not as a coach. Maybe a sporting director.”

Messi: “I hope we end this sh*t year we all had well and that next year will be better for everyone.””

And so the interview comes to an end with the famous 'God only knows what I'd be without you’ song playing on in the background as the credits roll.

End of thread. ✌️