Lionel Messi Opens Up on Painful Barcelona Exit: “I Didn’t Leave the Way I Imagined”
Football legend Lionel Messi has once again reflected on his emotional departure from FC Barcelona in 2021, admitting that leaving the club under such unexpected circumstances left him with a “strange feeling” in his heart.
The Argentine icon, who spent over two decades at Camp Nou, said his exit wasn’t how he envisioned the end of his glorious chapter with the Spanish giants.
In a recent interview with SPORT, Messi confessed,
“I didn’t leave Barça as I had imagined to. I was left with a strange feeling after my departure. I finished my final years without the fans. The farewell moment was also a bit strange because of the circumstances and everything surrounding it.”
Messi’s departure in August 2021 came as a shock to the football world. Despite both parties wanting to renew their contract, Barcelona’s deep financial crisis made it impossible to register the new deal under LaLiga’s salary cap regulations.
That heartbreaking twist forced Messi to leave as a free agent, joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), where he spent two seasons before moving to Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS).
His last game for Barcelona — a 2–1 defeat to Celta Vigo in May 2021 — was played in an empty Camp Nou, stripped of the roar of the fans who had worshipped him for years.
Opinion: Messi’s Regret Reminds Us That Even Legends Deserve Proper Goodbyes
Messi’s words cut deep — not just for Barcelona fans, but for anyone who has witnessed his magic on the pitch. His story isn’t just about football; it’s about love, loyalty, and legacy.
For over 20 years, Messi wasn’t just Barcelona’s best player — he was Barcelona. From the record goals to the unforgettable El Clásico moments, his brilliance turned Camp Nou into a cathedral of footballing art. Yet, the ending was almost silent, muted by contracts, debt, and the ghost of a pandemic.
Football can be cruel that way. One day you’re the heartbeat of a club, the next, you’re gone — not because you’ve stopped loving the game, but because the system says you must go.
Messi’s regret is deeply human. It’s the ache of someone who gave everything but couldn’t say goodbye properly. Fans around the world still remember his tearful press conference, a man who didn’t want to leave but had no choice.
Now thriving in Miami and still creating magic, Messi’s legacy remains untarnished. But his words remind us of something timeless — that even the greatest of all time deserves a moment to say goodbye, surrounded by the people who loved him most.
