Barcelona’s triumph in the Copa del Rey was “a major tipping point,” captain Lionel Messi, whose contract expires on June 30 and who is still negotiating an extension, said in an interview published in the Argentine press on Saturday.
Speaking to sports newspaper Olé, he made no concrete statements about his future, but did return to the excitement after Barcelona’s 4-0 win against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey in mid-April, the Catalan club’s first title in nearly two year.
“The truth is that the last Copa del Rey was also special because of the moment we were in. The club comes from two years in which we did not do well, ”said the Argentinian number ten.
“Barça’s dressing room is very young, with many new players. This Copa del Rey was a turning point for the dressing room, and a very important one. And beyond that, on a personal level, I love to win titles. And the more titles I win, the better, ”said ‘La Pulga’, who turns 34 on June 24th.
The Argentinian legend, who will not play at Eibar during the last game of the season with Barcelona at Eibar on Saturday (6 p.m.), has scored 30 league goals this season, which will almost certainly make him the eighth time in his career as the top scorer of La Liga.
If Messi doesn’t renew his contract, his last game for the club will be last Sunday’s 1-2 defeat to Celta Vigo at Camp Nou. A defeat that knocked Barça out of the title race for good.
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