A journalist has revealed the last WhatsApp message Lionel Messi sent to his former Barcelona teammates before leaving to join Paris Saint-Germain.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner, who spent 21 trophy-laden years at the Camp Nou, has signed a two-year deal at the Ligue 1 side worth a reported €25m per season.
His arrival at the Parc des Princes has sent shockwaves throughout world football as he prepares to play alongside the likes of Sergio Ramos, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in the coming months.
🗣“I’ve been learning English for a year and a half!”
Lionel Messi’s first interview with the BBC as a PSG player ⬇️
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) August 12, 2021
Indeed Messi’s teammates were clearly a mixture of emotional and shocked during his final press conference before leaving Barca. So what did he say to them beforehand?
Argentine journalist Veronica Brunati has posted what is supposedly the final WhatsApp message he sent to those closest to him at the Camp Nou.
In fact, according to the source, Messi sent the message to a group that includes fellow La Masia graduates Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas, known by many as the “Barcelona Generation ’87.”
The message read: “I don’t want to go. There is nothing left to do, there is no money. The club is doing very badly, they cannot extend with me.
Mirá si será culé #Messi que mantiene un grupo de whats app con sus compañeros de la Masía cat 87’ y les avisó a ellos por qué se iba de #Barça: “No me quiero ir. No se pudo hacer más, no hay dinero. El club está muy mal y no pueden renovarme”, me cuentan que les dijo. 😭
— Veronica Brunati 💚 (@verobrunati) August 11, 2021
Messi’s sudden departure took a big hit on his former teammates, according to The Athletic. A source with links to Barca’s first team gave damning details on how a number of players are feeling after he left.
“There are a lot of angry people, and they are angry for different reasons,” the source said.
“Maybe some are right, maybe some are wrong. Every situation is different.
“Neto wants to go. [Philippe] Coutinho feels like s***. [Miralem] Pjanic feels defrauded. Jordi Alba is on a crazy long-term contract.
“Maybe it is the fault of the old management, who were throwing money everywhere, but this situation was always around since they (Laporta and the new board) won the election (in March).”
Coutinho with a thank you message to Lionel Messi. pic.twitter.com/BXwRM35Uhu
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) August 6, 2021
Thoughts on Messi’s arrival at the French giants? Can he lead them to Champions League glory?
Let us know in the comments.