Lionel Messi’s brother, Matias has issued an apology after making some controversial remarks about FC Barcelona. Messi plied his trade for the Catalan giants from 2003 to 2021, leading them to a heap of trophies and also becoming their all-time topscorer. The Argentine did script an important and glorious chapter of Barcelona’s history, but his brother recently claimed that it was the 35-year-old because of whom the Catalan club ‘became known’ to the world.
Matias’ comments re-dig a bitter couple of years Lionel Messi has shared with his former club. Messi was forced to leave his beloved Barcelona in the summer of 2021, after he was almost ready to pen a new deal at the club. However, the Catalans had to let him go at the eleventh hour after their reeling financial situation prevented them from registering the Argentine as a first-team player for the following season.
Matias clarifies his ‘nobody knew about Barcelona before Lionel Messi’ comments
Lionel Messi has evidently fallen out with Barcelona, after the player felt betrayed by the new president Joan Laporta and his administration, according to his inner circle. The forward wanted to continue in Spain but eventually had to leave with a heavy heart, as he apparently vowed that he won’t return to the club ever. Messi’s relationship with Laporta also fractured despite sharing a close bond with him during his first tenure as the club president.
Matias’ latest comments only added fuel to fire, wherein he went on an absurd rant against the cub claiming that it was his brother Lionel Messi who gave them a global recognition. While some may argue that the bizarre claim is true to some extent, it still only takes Messi and Barcelona further apart from each other at a time when rumours are prevailing that the club is doing everything possible to bring back their legend. Matias said on the streaming platform Twitch:
“I don’t know about you, but Barcelona became known thanks to Messi. Nobody knew about them before. Whoever’s had the chance to go to Barcelona and see the museum, you can see that the museum is Messi.”
However, after a social media uproar against him, Matias has now clarified his comments and even issued an apology, dismissing his remarks as ‘jokes’. He wrote on Instagram:
“I want to apologise for what I said on social networks: I was just making jokes with my son and my friends. How am I going to think that of a club as big as Barcelona and their history, which has given a lot both to my family and Leo? For us, Catalonia is our second home and that is well known. I’m very sorry and I apologise to everyone, especially the Barcelona fans.”
Prior to the arrival of Lionel Messi, Barcelona had already won the majority of its 26 La Liga titles. Moreover, Joan Gamper, Johan Cruyff, Hristo Stoichkov, Pep Guardiola, Rivaldo, Ronald Koeman, Gary Lineker, Patrick Kluivert, Ronaldinho, are just a few of the legends that played with for the club before Messi rose to prominence.
It is being understood that Matias Messi criticised Barcelona for failing to acknowledge the greatness of the World Cup winner, who won four Champions Leagues and ten La Liga titles amongst his 35 trophies with the Blaugrana in addition to several individual accolades. Messi fired in 672 goals enroute to becoming the club’s leading goalscorer and also racked up 303 assists in 778 official appearances.