Barcelona manager Xavi understands Lionel Messi’s choice to join Inter Miami rather than return to Camp Nou because he prefers a “quieter life.”
After leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, the Argentine legend was connected with a return to Barcelona, but he chose to continue his career in MLS. Messi revealed that he wanted to return to the club that raised him, but he didn’t want to put his destiny in the hands of someone else.
Xavi, however, feels that the 35-year-old wanted to join an easier league after two years of scrutiny at Paris Saint-Germain, telling Jijantes: “I have noticed a change in him over the last few days and weeks. He doesn’t see things as clearly and we have to respect him. We often don’t put ourselves in someone else’s situation, we lack empathy. Being Leo Messi can’t be easy. He never has any peace and has to be a 10 in everything. He has seen that he hasn’t had a good time and he doesn’t want this kind of pressure, it’s normal.”
He added: “The excitement was generated because we both talked, we have talked a lot. We were all looking forward to it, first for him, then for me and then for the club. But the circumstances didn’t work out… He wanted to lower the level of pressure and tension. He wants a quieter life.”
Messi chose the Florida club over Barcelona and the Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal and reportedly signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with them. Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez have all been linked to Miami, and they are also rumoured to be interested in Angel Di Maria, so he might not be the only ex-Barca wonder to sign with the team.
Messi will formally sign with Inter Miami next month and may play his club’s first game against Cruz Azul on July 21.