Lionel Messi commits future to Barcelona: I have never thought about leaving the club
Argentine vows to play on for the La Liga champions despite disappointment of Uefa Champions League semi-final exit to Liverpool
May 25, 2019
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has committed his future to the Spanish club and says he has no plans on playing anywhere else.
The Catalan side's season ends on Saturday with the Copa del Rey final in Seville against Valencia, but despite winning the league title it has been a low-key end to the year after they exited the Uefa Champions League at the semi-finals stage to Liverpool.
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But Messi said he has no plans on playing for anyone else other then Barca.
He remains the heartbeat of Barcelona and insists he has no plans on leaving the club he first joined as a 13-year-old in 2001.
The 31-year-old said on Friday, before it was confirmed he had won the European Golden Shoe for a third successive season: "I want to keep competing at Barca and I have never thought about leaving the club. Nothing makes me think about not competing here."
But Messi admitted Barca's horror-show on Merseyside, where they lost 4-0 to Liverpool in the second leg after winning in Spain in the first leg 3-0, is still hanging over them, as evidenced by a 2-2 draw at Eibar on the final day of the La Liga season.
Yet, having retained their league crown, Messi knows Barca must shake off any lingering European hangover when they take on Valencia in the Copa del Rey final at Real Betis' Estadio Benito Villamarin on Saturday night.
The Argentinian forward said: "We are still getting over the setback at Liverpool. It was a big blow. It was difficult to pick ourselves up as you could see in the following game.
These boots were made for winning! pic.twitter.com/viEeNlNbY8
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 24, 2019
"It has been a spectacular year in which we have won the league and we are in the final of the Copa del Rey. We have had a great season with the exception of the game at Liverpool.
"That game has spoilt a little the year we have had. I just want to win the final and end the season with another trophy.
"We are all aware that it is a final and it's another trophy to win. We have to end the season well, celebrating another title if we can."
Messi bagged a brace against Eibar last weekend to take his tally to 50 goals for the season in all competitions.
Updated: May 25, 2019 09:58 AM
