Why we were scared when Messi vowed to quit Barca in 2013-Spanish FA boss

By Bimbo Ogunnaike with agency report

LaLiga President, Javier Tebas, has disclosed that the country’s football governing were scared when Lionel Messi’s  revealed that he will quit Barcelona in 2013.

Messi said at that time that he was comtemplating make a move away from the the Catalan based club after he was caught up in tax scandal.

His decision to stay with the club was a great relief to  Spanish FA boss, Tebas, who admits losing such an iconic presence, would have been unthinkable for the top division league.

“We were never scared [that Messi would leave Spain] because we didn’t know what he was thinking.With [this week’s] interview, I got scared and [then] I was relieved to see that, just as well, he decided to stay. In this low moment, he decided to continue.”

“I want to thank Messi for continuing in our league. If he feels down again, he shouldn’t have any doubts that we will support him and call him, that we will keep supporting him,” Tebas told reporters at Cirque du Soleil’s Messi-inspired show:

Spanmish FA chief, who believes believes Messi was unfairly treated when faced with tax fraud allegations and can sympathise with the Barcelona superstar,added: “I don’t think there was cruelty, but they were unfair with him as a physical person. It’s clear that he didn’t sign or didn’t read everything. They would tell him where to sign and he would do it.”

“I don’t read all the La Liga contracts otherwise I’d be there all day.I’m convinced that it was an administrative issue and not criminal,” Tebas said.