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sports Dialuna 9 augustus 2021

Messi breaks down, says he wasn't ready to leave Barcelona

(AP) — Lionel Messi be- “In these last few days I was Messi said he hopes to return
gan crying before he even thinking about what I would to Barcelona in some capacity
started speaking. The say today, but to be honest I one day and that he wished
“most difficult” moment couldn’t come up with any- he could have said goodbye
of his career had arrived thing. I was blocked, like I to fans in a match with a ca-
and he wasn’t ready for it. still am right now,” Messi pacity crowd chanting his
said. “I was convinced that name. He said it was sad to
It was time to say goodbye we would remain with the leave after not being able to
to Barcelona after more than club, which is our home.” play in front of fans for nearly
two decades with the Catalan a year and a half.
club. Messi’s family and some of
his teammates were at the He said his best moment
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to Camp Nou for the emotion- was his first-team debut in
speak,” he said while trying al farewell. He was applauded 2004, because “that’s when
to compose himself during several times by those in the it all started.” He said he has
his farewell news conference audience. “no regrets,” but believed
at the Camp Nou Stadium he was part of a generation debt. President Joan Laporta sons with the main squad.
on Sunday. “It still hasn’t The 34-year-old Messi avoid- that should have won more blamed the club’s struggles He helped the club win the
sunk in that I’m leaving this ed speaking specifically about Champions League titles. on the coronavirus pandemic Champions League four
club, that my life will be his future, saying he received and particularly on the previ- times, the Spanish league
changing completely. It will offers from several clubs af- Winning the Champions ous administration led by Jo- 10 times, the Copa del Rey
be a difficult change for me ter the announcement that League again will remain one sep Bartomeu. seven times and the Spanish
and especially for my family. he would leave the Catalan of his main goals, as well as Super Cup eight times.
But we have to accept it and club. When asked about Paris closing the gap to former “We all thought we would Messi leaves as Barcelona’s
move on.” Saint-Germain, considered teammate Dani Alves as the reach a solution without any all-time leading scorer with
the frontrunner to sign him, most decorated player. The problems, but in the end it 672 goals. He played in 778
Messi struggled to control his Messi admitted it was “a pos- Brazilian defender won his wasn’t possible,” Messi said. matches with the club, also
emotions and cried profusely sibility.” 43rd title at the Tokyo Olym- “As the president said, the a record. He is also the over-
as he stepped up to the po- pics on Saturday. Messi add- club is more important than all top scorer in the Spanish
dium at the Camp Nou. “At this moment I don’t have ed that he has no immediate anyone.” league with 474 goals from
a deal with any club,” he said. plans to retire. 520 matches. He led the
“This is very hard for me af- Messi asked to leave at the Spanish league in scoring in
ter so many years, after being PSG has been in talks over He said it will be “strange” to end of the 2019-20 season eight seasons, and was the
here my entire life,” he said. the weekend with Messi’s see Barcelona without Messi, but had his request denied top scorer in the Champions
“I wasn’t prepared.” team trying to finalize a deal. “but with time people will by Bartomeu, with whom he League six times.
get used to it.” He said the had clashed.
Messi said that, unlike last Sports daily L’Equipe report- club still has good players He said none of the chal-
year when he asked to leave, ed on its website Sunday that and can continue to succeed “I wanted to leave then, but lenges he faced on the field
he had his mind set on stay- Messi was to fly to Paris later without him. not now,” he said. “I didn’t compared to the one of say-
ing with Barcelona and did Sunday to put the finish- expect it, so it’s sad to have to ing goodbye to Barcelona.
everything possible to make ing touches on the deal with Barcelona announced say goodbye.”
it happen, including reduc- a view to having a medical Thursday it could not keep “There were many tough
ing his salary by 50%. He said exam on Monday morning. its greatest player because Messi spent nearly two de- moments, many losses, but
he was surprised to hear he it wasn’t able to fit a new cades with Barcelona after in the end you always went
wouldn’t be able to stay be- An email from The Associ- contract within the Spanish arriving from Argentina as back to training and to play-
cause of the club’s debt and ated Press to PSG seeking to league’s financial fair-play a 13-year-old to play in its ing again,” he said. “This is
the Spanish league’s financial confirm the report was not regulations. The club’s sal- youth squads. He made his different. There is no going
fair-play regulations. immediately answered. ary cap has been significantly first-team debut as a 17-year- back. This is the end. Now a
slashed because of its huge old, then played 17 sea- new story begins.”

Bobby Bowden, led Florida State football dynasty, dies at 91

(AP) - Bobby Bowden, the home in Tallahassee, Florida, God’s purpose for my life, State, where he went 315- Campbell Stadium in Talla-
folksy Hall of Fame coach surrounded by family. on and off the field, and I 98-4. The Seminoles were a hassee and coach Mike Nor-
who built Florida State am prepared for what is to force during his 34 seasons vell addressed players about
into a college football dy- “It was truly peaceful,” Terry come,” Bowden, a devout as coach, winning 12 Atlantic Bowden before a morning
nasty that powered its way Bowden said in a text mes- Christian, said at the time. Coast Conference champi- practice.
to a dozen conference sage to The AP. “My wife, Ann, and our fam- onships and national titles in
titles and two national ily have been life’s greatest 1993 and 1999. Assistant head coach and de-
championships, died early Bobby Bowden announced blessing. I am at peace.” fensive line coach Odell Hag-
Sunday. He was 91. on July 21 he had a terminal Bowden was beloved by Florida State had an un- gins, who played and coached
illness that Terry Bowden lat- Seminoles fans, respected by matched run of 14 consecu- under Bowden, praised his
Bobby’s son, Terry, con- er said was pancreatic cancer. his peers and throughout his tive seasons (1987-2000) friend for being a hard-nosed
firmed to The Associated life one of the most accessible finishing ranked in the top competitor, but also a com-
Press that his father died at “I’ve always tried to serve stars in college football. His five of The Associated Press passionate coach.
home number was listed in college football poll under “He never talked about win-
the Tallahassee phone book Bowden. ning the game. He always
for years. talked about saving lives. And
News of his death spread that’s the thing I hope every-
With Southern charm and quickly and Alabama’s Nick body sees (with) him,” Hag-
wit, Bowden piled up 377 Saban was among many col- gins said. “You know, they
wins during his 40 years as leagues and former players to talk about how many football
a major college coach, from express their sadness. Flow- games he won. You talk about
tiny Samford — his alma ers, many of them in Florida the national championships
mater, then known as How- State’s garnet and gold color he won. But look at how
ard College — to West Vir- scheme, adorned the statue many lives he won. Look at
ginia and finally at Florida of Bowden outside of Doak how many lives he saved.”