Barcelona captain Lionel Messi pinpoints at altruistic reason behind wanting to leave club

Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi has admitted that he had Barcelona's best interests at heart when anuncing that he wanted to leave club in August. 33-year-old sent footballing world into a frenzy after handing in his transfer request but eventually made a U-turn on his decision to stay put at Barcelona due to his staggering €700m release clause. Messi went on to state that his love for club meant he had intention of disputing Barcelona's decision in court and dragging out a legal dispute.

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Lionel Messi transfer news: Lionel Messi spills beans over failed Barcelona exit

While speaking to Spanish news outlet Diario Sport on Tuesday, Lionel Messi claimed that he only wanted to make Barcelona "better" by leaving club. "re have been many disagreements but I want to bring an end to everything w because we have to be united and although best is yet to come, my decision for handing in transfer request was simply to make Barcelona better", he said. "I want everyone who supports us to kw that I did everything with  club's best interests in mind", added Messi. 

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Lionel Messi was heavily linked with a move to Premier League side Man City over summer. Multiple reports claimed that Messi had agreed on a five-year deal with City Football Group to work under former boss Pep Guardiola. superstar forward also recently slammed club in an Instagram post, after Barcelona decided to offload his best friend Luis Suarez to Atletico Madrid last week. "It was tough but I had to make a statement", said Messi.

Why was Messi leaving Barca? issue between Messi and Bartomeu

Earlier this month, while speaking to Goal, Lionel Messi explained that he would hour his contract with Barcelona, which expires next year. However, Argentine also aired out issues he faced with Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu. By his own admission, Messi claimed that he wanted to leave "all year" and claimed that a clause in his contract meant he could do so for free, but in end, he was forced to stay as Barcelona disagreed and weren't willing to reduce his €700 million release clause. Messi said, "I spoke with Bartomeu about leaving club many times but he always told me we would talk about it later. He didn't keep his promise in end". 

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Following transfer drama that took place last month, Lionel Messi reassured Barcelona fans and manr Ronald Koeman that he plans to give his everything for club this season. Messi was on scoresheet for Barcelona when y hammered Villarreal 4-0 in ir first LaLiga game of season. 

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Im Credits - Barcelona Twitter