Messi wanted to leave due to the tax issues but he changed his mind after a lengthy conversation with Tito Vilanova in April 2014.
Back in 2014, Leo Messi was seriously considering leaving Barcelona due to the tax evasion case and with Chelsea interested. However, the Argentine great stayed, thanks to Tito Vilanova.
As Tito’s former assistant Jordi Roura confessed in 2019, Vilanova persuaded Messi to stay at Barca just six days before his death.
Here’s what Roura told Radio Kanal Barcelona: “It occurred when Tito was at a delicate moment and it is true that, at that time, Leo was not clear about staying.
“They met and even though I wasn’t there, I know they spent a lot of time talking.
“From there, Leo changed his approach and saw something that he had not seen so clearly. I don’t know what they spoke about, but Leo decided to stay.”
Vilanova passed away from cancer on April 25, 2014. He was Barca’s head coach a year before, winning La Liga with the record-breaking 100 points.
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