Lionel Messi remains nostalgic about his time at Barcelona and has once again admitted that he didn’t want to leave the Catalan club last summer.
Messi, along with his Argentina teammates, has been training at Athletic Club’s training complex in Lezama in preparation for the Finalissima against Italy on June 1 at Wembley.
The Paris Saint-Germain star took some time out of his schedule to give an in-depth interview to TyC Sports where he talked about the switch to France, the past season and looked ahead to the CONEMBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions.
“It was a summer of complete happiness and one where I thought everything would stay the same at Barcelona and in my life and then what happened happened and it was tough,” said Messi.
“It was a tough change, a difficult year. The adaptation wasn’t easy. After a lifetime in the same place, it’s not easy at my age.
“It’s one thing to do it when you’re younger and you want to, but at the time I didn’t want to and I didn’t imagine or expect it.”
On the field, PSG‘s season was marked by a Champions League exit at the hands of eventual winners Real Madrid, but Messi doesn’t believe Los Blancos are the best team in Europe.
“The Real Madrid game killed us. The best team doesn’t always win,” said Messi.
“Without taking anything away from Madrid, because they are the champions of Europe and they’re always there or thereabouts, but they weren’t the best team of this Champions League.
“The Champions League is about situations, key moments, psychological moments that take a team, where the slightest error can eliminate you and the those who are best prepared for those situations end up winning or reaching the final.”
Messi did concede, however, that this year’s Ballon d’Or has to go to Karim Benzema for the season he’s had.
“I think there’s no doubts, it’s clear Benzema had a great year, topping it off with the Champions League, where he was key from the round of 16 onwards in all the games. I think there’s no doubt this year,” said Messi.
Looking ahead to the Italy game, the Argentina No.10 is keen to add another trophy to his cabinet, one he hasn’t had the chance to get his hands on before.
“It’s an official competition, approved by FIFA, another trophy for us and we want to win it, for ourselves, for the group, for the people of Argentina,” said Messi.
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