Categories: Sports

‘My mom was so angry…’: Lionel Messi Reveals Reason For Leaving Newell’s Old Boys To Join Barcelona

Lionel Messi has revealed that Newell's Old Boys kept dodging the money they had promised his family for his treatment.

Add NewsX As A Trusted Source
Add as a preferred
source on Google
Published by Somya Kapoor
Published: January 7, 2026 16:53:57 IST

Lionel Messi has explained the reason he left Newell’s Old Boys and moved to Barcelona. The Argentina legend revealed that the club kept dodging money they had promised his family for his treatment.

“I started the treatment when I was 11. It was a very expensive treatment. The company where my dad worked covered part of it, but even with that it wasn’t enough because it cost a lot. I remember going to do tests, running a block in the street, coming back, more tests… And from there I began the treatment,” he said while speaking to LUZU TV. 

“My mom had to cross Rosario to get the money Newell’s had promised us and many times they gave her only 5 pesos, 10 pesos, or they’d tell her, ‘The person who has to give you the money isn’t here.’ That’s why my mom was so angry with certain people at Newell’s. In the end it wasn’t the club as an institution, it was a specific person who was there at that time. Because of everything that happened, I ended up leaving Newell’s, going to Barcelona, the family split, and life started to be different.”

Asked he would be interested in taking up the coach’s role, Messi denied it. 

“I don’t really see myself as a coach. The idea of being a Sporting Director interests me more, but if I have to choose one of the three, what I’d like most is to be a club owner.”

Messi has signed a three-year deal with Inter Milan until 2028. 

Also Read: Jemimah Rodrigues Shows Her Musical Side At Reliance Event | WATCH

Published by Somya Kapoor
Published: January 7, 2026 16:53:57 IST

Recent Posts

Who Is Reza Pahlavi? Meet The Exiled Crown Prince Of Iran, Catalysing Protestors Who Chant ‘Death To The Islamic Republic’

Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s exiled crown prince and son of the last Shah, called for mass…

January 9, 2026

Google Rolls Out Free AI Features In Gmail: Here’s How To Make Writing Emails Effortless

Google is making Gemini-powered AI tools in Gmail free for all users, enabling features like…

January 9, 2026

Maa Inti Bangaaram Teaser: Samantha Ruth Prabhu Turns Action-Packed ‘Perfect Daughter-In-Law,’ Takes On Goons With Guns

The Maa Inti Bangaaram teaser showcases Samantha Ruth Prabhu as a ‘perfect daughter-in-law’ who swiftly…

January 9, 2026