BEUNOS AIRES: Star footballer Lionel Messi has said that during the times he was under investigation by Spanish tax authorities, he was all set to leave Barcelona.
In an interview, the soccer star also said he had expected Neymar Jr. to sign for Real Madrid last summer after Barca failed to strike an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain.
“In 2013-14, when I started having the tax problems, it was very difficult for me and my family,” he said, adding, “My children were young and we had a very bad time. At that time, I had it in mind to leave, not because I wanted to leave Barca but because I wanted to leave Spain. I felt mistreated and I didn’t want to be here anymore.”
He was responding to a question about leaving the club he’s been playing for.
The 32-year-old’s current contract with Barcelona expires in 2021 and Messi believes extending his deal “will not be a problem.”
“Today it is clearer that my idea is to finish here,” Messi said. “For how I am at the club, for what I feel, and for the family and the children and how settled we are in this city. I would not like to disrupt that.
“Of course anything can happen but in principle, the idea is to stay here,” he added.
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