Football

Conte speaks on Messi departing from Barcelona

Published

9 years ago

March 15, 2018

Feyijimi Emmanuel

By Boluwatife Ezekiel Olaleye

Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte has said that Lionel Messi will never leave Barcelona.

Conte said the Argentine will remain with the Catalan giants for the rest of his playing days.

The Italian watched the Argentine maestro destroy Chelsea’s Champions League hopes on Wednesday night.

The 30-year-old Argentine scored twice and set up a goal for Ousmane Dembele as Barca beat Chelsea 3-0 at the Camp Nou on Wednesday for a 4-1 aggregate triumph.

The double took Messi to 100 Champions League goals while his opener, coming after 129 seconds, was the fastest goal of his illustrious career.

Messi has frequently been linked with a big-money move to the Premier League but Conte is convinced the striker will retire at Barcelona.

“I think Leo wants to stay until the end of his career with Barcelona,” Conte said.

“We’re talking about an impossible situation. I repeat: we must have great respect for this player. We are talking about a fantastic player.

“I think he wants to stay in Barcelona for the end of his career. I think it’s the right way for him. He’s writing with his team-mates a great story with Barcelona.”