Sky sport news journalist, Gary Cotterill, who was at Lionel Messi’s press conference described the forward’s appearance as lonely and saddening as he first walked on the stage.
According to the journalist, Messi was upset, choked and emotional he could not get his words out while on stage.
He described the mood in the room as unbelievable while everything kept happening.
“It is one of those things that is so incredible, you almost don’t believe it’s happening. To be in that room, and it wasn’t a very big room, one half was filled with family, friends and past and present Barcelona players, and the other half with journalists, he said.
“200 journalists weren’t even allowed to get in, so I was privileged to be there, and Messi answered question after question. They did well in these Covid times to pull it off as smoothly as they did, and then the platform at the back of the room was filled with cameramen and photographers.
“When he first walked onto the stage, you felt very sorry for him, he looked like a very lonely and sad figure. When he did start talking he was so upset, so choked and very emotional, he could hardly get his words out.
In a video seen, at some point while the forward was shedding tears as he gave his speech, everybody in the room were on their feet as they gave the star an echoing applause and a standing ovation.
Messi wept for long before he could continue delivering his farewell speech to Barcelona.
It was a moment to purely let out emotions both for the parting football star, Barcelona fans and football spectators generally.
PMnews
