Lionel Messi has looked back upon his early days at Barcelona and thanked La Masia for making him the player he is today.
Sport reports an interview with the Argentina captain in which he recalled his first experience of the city and the club.
“I came here when I was 13 and I was surprised that I liked everything, everything was different from what I had seen in Rosario, my city,” Messi said.
“It was all a joy. Coming here was very nice.
“First I was six months without playing, because the transfer wasn’t completed and then because of injury.
“I was injured in my first game. They were hard times and lasted quite a while.
“I am what I am because of the values I learned in the cantera and in Barcelona’s La Masia.”
