In May 2014, Lionel Messi signed with Barcelona, where he has been playing since 2003, another super contract with many zeros. Thus, stopping all reasoning that a footballer who is considered the best on the planet dreams of playing somewhere else. However, the Barcelona striker did not give up the dream of saying goodbye to football in the first of his big clubs.
The child and the "oldies"
Born into the family of the coach of the football team "Grandoli" (Rosario), Messi could hardly have chosen a fate and career other than football. And dreamed, accordingly, only of the dad's team. Or, alternatively, about other teams from Rosario's hometown. For example, about Newells Old Boys. Translated from English, this team is called rather amusingly - "Old Men of Newells". In the school of the five-time champion of Argentina, young Lionel learned to score. And it was from Newells, without receiving the long-awaited invitation from the best Argentinean team, River Plate (although he also dreamed of it), that in 2000 he moved to a club where, probably, any footballer wants to play. It's called Barcelona.
In Russia, it is sometimes argued that happiness could not have happened, if you did not contribute to it unhappiness. Messi's story is consistent with this sequence of events. The 13-year-old Argentine boy was helped not only by the selection gift of the Barcelona scout Carles Rexach, but also by a serious hormonal disease that hindered his growth, to become first a student of the school, and later a player of the famous Catalan team. “Barcelona”, quickly convinced of the undoubted talent of the young striker, agreed to spend money on expensive treatment. In addition, she moved the Messi family from Rosario, providing citizenship, work and housing to all the close relatives of the South American prodigy with the ball.
Ticket at Albiseleste
Argentines value patriotism even in a single football. And in the republic, traditionally considered the world leader in meat consumption, they did not even doubt that Messi, even if he grew up in Spanish-Catalan Barcelona, would choose Argentina's national team. In the country it is called "Albiseleste". From Italian it translates as "blue and white", which corresponds to the colors of the country's flag and the team's shirts.
Messi himself said: all the talk about a possible appearance in the Spanish national team, especially after a categorical refusal, is complete nonsense. He is an Argentinean who loves and therefore defends the colors of his country on the field.
There is a contract
The dream not only to score decisive goals, but also to receive the largest salary convinced Messi to negotiate with competitors from England and France. And only the compelling arguments of the former coach of the Catalans Tito Vilanova helped Lionel make a more correct decision: to sign a new contract in May 2014 and receive 20 million euros per year at Barça. And at the same time to become the most expensive footballer in the world, estimated at 138 million euros.
Curiously, having won many titles and prizes in Barcelona, Lionel once admitted that he had not yet realized one football dream. Early, they say. And he explained that he wants to spend the final year of his professional career not just in Argentina, but in the Old Boys. The fact that the football star of the world No. 1 is not cunning is evidenced by such an interesting fact. When Lionel's son was born, in addition to the name of Thiago, dad presented the baby not only a T-shirt with the name of Messi and his top ten on the back, but also a contract with Newells. And also a card of a club member from Rosario.
Messi is not the only one who dreams
No less surprising fact, confirming the phenomenal popularity of Messi, can be considered public recognition of the desire to play with him other prims of world soccer. Once this was stated by the striker of the Brazilian national team and Santos Neymar and the striker of Manchester City Argentine Sergio Aguero. The dreams of both came true in 2014. Brazilian Neymar has become a Barcelona player and Messi's team-mate. And Aguero, along with Lionel, played for Albiseleste at the World Championship in Brazil.
