By Daily Sports on June 1, 2020

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi said life and football will never be the same again once it returns following the coronavirus pandemic which has taken almost 400,000 lives across the world.

The Bundesliga in Germany became the first of Europe’s big five leagues to return earlier in May and Spain's La Liga, England’s Premier League and Italy’s Serie A are all set to restart in June.

Games across all the leagues will be played behind closed doors as one of a number of the consequences caused by the coronavirus crisis, with clubs, competitions and related businesses also facing uncertain futures financially.

“I don’t think football will ever be the same,” Messi said in an interview El Pais on Sunday. “But beyond football, I don't think life, in general, will ever be the same, either.

“All of us that have experienced this situation will remember what happened in one way or another. In my case, it's with a feeling of sorrow and frustration for those that have suffered the most due to the loss of loved ones.

“I am sure that football and sport, in general, will be affected. Financially, because there are companies linked with the world of sport that will maybe experience some difficulties because of the coronavirus.

“But also professionally, because with the return to training and competing, what was normal before now is going to be different. It will be a strange situation for us as athletes but also for anyone that has to change their usual work dynamic.”

Messi donated more than €1 million to hospitals and charities fighting the coronavirus, both in Catalonia, where he has lived since joining Barca as a teenager, and in his native Argentina.

“I am grateful to all of the people that are fighting to beat this virus in hospitals, health centres and care homes,” he added. “Nearly all of us have doubts about how the world will be after everything that’s happened. (ESPN)

•PHOTO: Lionel Messi 

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 1, 2020

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