Messi: My family cried when I told them I wanted to leave Barcelona
A dramatic moment at home
Posted Saturday, September 05, 2020 by Marca.com
Lionel Messi has revealed how his family reacted to the moment he told them about his transfer request to Barcelona.
The Argentine has spent almost 20 years in Barcelona, where he lives with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo, and his three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.
"When I communicated my wish to leave to my wife and children, it was a brutal drama," Messi told Goal.com as he explained his decision to stay in an interview
"The whole family began crying, my children did not want to leave Barcelona, nor did they want to change schools.
"But I looked further afield and I want to compete at the highest level, win titles, compete in the Champions League.
"You can win or lose in it, because it is very difficult, but you have to compete.
"At least compete for it and let us not fall apart in Rome, Liverpool, Lisbon.
"All that led me to think about that decision that I wanted to carry out.
"Mateo is still little and he doesn't realise what it means to go somewhere else and make your life a few years elsewhere.
"Thiago, he is older, he heard something on TV and found out something and asked.
"I didn't want him to know anything about being forced to leave, to have to live in a new school, or make new friends.
"He cried to me and said 'Let's not go'.
"I repeat that it was hard, really.
"My son, my family, they grew up here and are from here.
"There was nothing wrong with wanting to leave.
"I needed it, the club needed it and it was good for everyone.
"My wife, with all the pain of her soul, supported and accompanied me."
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