Carlos Tevez explains why Messi did not go back to Barcelona

Argentine legend, Carlos Tevez has explained why his former teammate Lionel Messi did not go back to Barcelona following the expiration of his contract at PSG.

Messi is Barcelona’s and perhaps the game’s greatest player of all time, with his 672 goals and 303 assists from 778 appearances all club records at Camp Nou.

A seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and, since December, a World Cup winner with Argentina, Messi was the most valuable player on the free transfer market this summer, with Al-Hilal also willing to offer him €400 million a year to move to Saudi Arabia.

He however turned down Al-Hilal and Barcelona to join MLS club, Inter Miami which is co-owned by England legend, David Beckham.

Speaking to ESPN, Tevez said Messi did not join Barcelona because he doesn’t want to be seen as the “bad guy”. He noted that financial issues at the Spanish club would have required others to take a pay cut or move on for an agreement with Messi to be reached.

He said;

“It seems to me that Leo took the decision knowing and understanding his own situation. He didn’t want to go back to Barcelona and have his team-mates lower their salaries and be the bad guy again. It hurt him more than anyone not being able to return to Barcelona, which is his home.

“I think it was all very lukewarm on Barcelona’s part. Leo opted for the league in the United States. He likes Miami, it’s a tranquillity for him and his family. I think what he did was the right thing to do. If it wasn’t Barcelona, where he knew he was going to be the centre of attraction again, it was nothing in Europe. The decision was very well made.”

Messi has agreed an initial two-and-a-half-year deal with Inter Miami and is expected to link up with the David Beckham co-owned franchise in early July, as he is currently on international duty with Argentina ahead of their friendly dates with Australia and Indonesia.

Barca have been told by La Liga to reduce their debt by €200m this summer if they want to defend their title next term, and Messi’s acquisition would have reportedly required the entire staff; from players to dinner ladies agreeing to a salary reduction.