"I didn't really talk to them" - Unpublished interview of Lionel Messi from over two decades ago paints picture of his adaptation struggles at Barca

Former Barcelona ace, Lionel Messi, had once said he barely related with his colleagues and found it tough to adapt at the start of his iconic career. La Pulga also revealed most of his teammates at the time spoke Catalan, but they tried to make him comfortable and treated him well.

In an unpublished interview with El Grafico dating back two decades ago (2003), Lionel Messi said (via Daily Express):

"At first, it was a bit difficult with my new team-mates; they all spoke Catalan. I didn't really talk to them, and I didn't adapt well at first, but then they opened up and talked to me. The truth is, they treated me very well, and thanks to them, I'm getting along very well with everyone today."

Messi added on his transition from the pattern of play in Argentina to the LaLiga:

"It all happened quickly. Luckily, it went well for me, and I got used to it. Things are going well for me. At first, it was a bit difficult. Football is faster, with more touches. I think because I was younger, 14, I adapted quickly."

Leo Messi joined Barcelona in January 2000 and quickly began to impress the football world with his incredible proficiency. His quality hastened his progression through the ranks, and he was registered as a first-team player four years later (2004).

Despite his dialectical and adaption struggles at the start, Messi set records that might be tough to rewrite at the Camp Nou. In his 21 years at Barcelona before moving to Paris Saint-Germain, Messi became and remains the club's top scorer with 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 matches.

He also won four Champions League titles, 14 domestic trophies, and 10 LaLiga titles among other trophies in his stint at Barcelona.

How has Lionel Messi performed for Inter Miami this season?

Paris Saint-Germain v Inter Miami CF: Round Of 16 - FIFA Club World Cup 2025 - Source: Getty

Messi's future at Inter Miami remains in doubt due to their erratic results recently, but La Pulga has arguably proved his worth. At 38, Lionel Messi is still scoring incredible goals and delivering key assists for the Miami-based club.

Lionel Messi has delivered 16 goals and six assists in 24 appearances for Inter Miami across competitions this season. However, recent reports indicate that the iconic No.10 might leave Miami at the expiration of his current deal (December 2025).

Messi will be aiming to help Argentina, the reigning world champions, in defending their World Cup title at the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament.

About the author

Abel is an European football journalist who focuses primarily on analysis pieces and preview copies at Sportskeeda. A B.Sc degree holder in Economics, he has a previous work experience of 3 years – a year at Opera News Hub where he was promoted as a 'Verified Sports Writer,’ and over two years at Sportskeeda as a revenue-share writer, where his writing skills have ultimately led him to be integrated into the in-house team.

A Manchester United fan who grew up in a family of Red Devils supporters, he started his journey as an ardent football fan in his childhood. He used to spend hours watching the sport with his family and developed a knack for writing about the beautiful game over the years.

He is a huge admirer of Paul Pogba owing to the midfielder's ability to thread passes from anywhere on the pitch and his favorite manager is Jose Mourinho due to the Portuguese's tactical mind. He feels France's triumph in 2018 is his all-time favorite World Cup moment, and reckons Lamine Yamal and Endrick could replicate the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Abel always strives to verify information, especially statistics, before penning a word and offers constructive but not defamatory criticisms. Apart from Europe's top five leagues, he follows the Eredivisie and the Primeira Liga. He loves to spend his free time playing video games like EA FC and watching movies.

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Edited by Nived Zenith