Barcelona legend Lionel, 34, is set to leave the club after financial constraints meant a new contract could not be agreed. The news opens a new chapter in the formidable career of the record six-time Ballon d’Or winner.
PSG are seen as the next club to sign the world’s best player, with talks underway, while former boss Pep Guardiola has denied Messi is not in Manchester City’s plans.
In every step of Messi’s life, he is always influenced by his father Jorge. Photo: CGI.
Despite the speculation, Messi’s biggest influence off the pitch is his 63-year-old father, a former metal factory worker in Rosario, Argentina. Jorge Messi himself coached his son at local side Grandoli before he joined Newell’s Old Boys. When the football prodigy needed hormone injections for a growth disorder, Messi’s father gave him a trial at Barcelona.
The Messi family moved to Spain when Lionel was 13. He dazzled coaches and clubs who agreed to pay for his treatment. Messi signed his first contract on a napkin.
“Leo always did what I told him as a coach,” Jorge said in 2013. “Even today, he’s the same. He never told me that he’s grown up and is the best player in the world. I’m a father and he sees me as his coach at Grandoli.”
Messi’s happy family. Photo: CGI.
Leo played his first few games at Grandoli before it was clear that he had a natural talent for the sport. Jorge coached his son and gave him guidance to improve.
At the age of 10, Messi was diagnosed with a growth disorder and required expensive treatment. Although Messi’s family were not poor, the £900 hormone injections were beyond their reach. Newell’s Old Boys could not afford them either, although Leo had already become known after an article in Rosario’s La Capital newspaper in September 2000.
Messi and his father disappeared for several weeks. Their school and those outside the family had no idea where they had gone. Newell’s thought he had gone to Buenos Aires and signed for a rival club, while another malicious rumour claimed he had hepatitis.
Jorge often gave good advice and pointed out the path for his son…
… and careful calculation contributed greatly to Messi’s success. Photo: CGI.
The truth is that Messi and his father went to Catalonia for a trial with Barcelona. Messi Jr. mesmerized coaches at the La Masia academy with a ball but there was no immediate contract offer.
Messi returned to Rosario, while Jorge organised another trial with the famous River Plate to put pressure on Barcelona. Finally, in front of the Messi family advisors at the time, Josep Maria Minguella and Horacio Gaggioli, a deal with the Spanish club was signed on a napkin.
Messi joined the Catalans on a £120,000-a-year salary, but more importantly he could get the hormone treatment he needed. But 12 months into his deal, Barcelona’s general manager was left frustrated at the huge sum for a teenager who was nowhere near first-team level. Another senior Barca official sarcastically asked: “Who does he think he is, Maradona?”
Messi’s extended family, including his parents, wife and children, are the most important source of motivation in his career. Photo: CGI.
Jorge contacted Jorge Valdano, former Real Madrid general manager, to see if Los Blancos would be interested in bringing his son in. Thankfully, Messi ended up staying at La Masia.
Just months after turning 18, Messi set up Andres Iniesta for a goal in a 2-2 draw with Juventus, with 90,000 fans chanting his name for the first time. But due to LaLiga’s strict regulations, Messi could not play for Barcelona at the time, as they had too many non-Spanish players in their squad.
Inter Milan entered the hunt for Messi’s signature with a deal that tripled Barcelona’s wages, alongside two other lower offers. However, Barca were quicker to increase Messi’s salary by the same amount in just 18 months. More importantly, President Laporta convinced the authorities to let Messi and his father become Spanish citizens, allowing him to play in LaLiga without any problems.
Whether Messi reunites with Neymar in PSG’s shirt or not, surely his father Jorge will have the final say. Photo: CGI.
Within three years of his debut, Messi quickly became Barcelona’s highest-paid player, surpassing Ronaldinho. Over the years, some of Messi’s contract terms have been increased to ensure he and his family are happy.
Messi’s next club is likely to be his last in football. But most importantly, Jorge has a duty to look after his son – the greatest footballer in the world, whether he plays for PSG or elsewhere, he will always have the final say.
