With the distance granted by more than three decades of professional career in England, Guillem Balagué (Barcelona, 1968) has become a privileged witness of the interior of the best footballer in history. A good part of all the secrets that Leo Messi has entrusted to him - and many of those who have lived with him - are recorded in an authorized biography that was published in 2014 and which, taking into account the frenetic career of the Argentine, is already 'had to update twice. The latest version of the work, which includes a traumatic farewell to Barça, is already in bookstores. Who knows if in the next update the author will have to talk about a happy return to Camp Nou.
Q. How do you get to be Leo Messi's official biographer?
Guillem Balagué: I'm telling you the story because, if you don't, you won't understand. I did a Liverpool book by Rafa Benítez. Five years later I was commissioned to write about Pep Guardiola, he agreed to help me and, once you enter Pep's world, you automatically have to try to understand the Messi universe. Then I contacted Leo's trusted people and suggested they write something. They told me no, that they didn't trust anyone, that there were some posts with lies. But two weeks later they called me and said, "You put in miles and we'll tell you based on the people you talk to." After the whole process, I was told that I could say that the biography was authorized. Then I accompanied Leo to business events. We even sold razors!
Q. Who do you talk to for an authorized biography? What doors are open only to you?
Guillem Balagué: From Leo downwards, you can talk to everyone. Due to the platform it is, the protagonists put more facilities on it. In this last update, his departure from Barça and his subsequent arrival at PSG had to be explained, above all. Everyone has their own version of events and I try to reflect them in the book.
Q. How is Leo in the short distance?
Guillem Balagué: If you enter the most intimate circle, which is now bigger since he has children, he is a catxondo . Over the years, the ability to relate has improved. It used to close and that's it. Now that has changed. In the short distance it is very affectionate. He is also a very analytical person. All the coaches say that when he talks about football he is amazing. He understands the game very well, more collectively than Cristiano Ronaldo, for example. In this sense, Ernesto Valverde explained to me that Messi was often ahead of the solutions he thought of during the matches. Leo has a good eye for talent and football. That's why he wants to be a sports director when he retires.
Q. Has Messi changed much since 2014?
Guillem Balagué: Yes. In fact, Guardiola, when I was in Munich, warned me: "It will be the last time I talk about Messi because it hurts me." Pep felt distant because at that time Leo did not look back: he lived focused on the present and the future and did not take care of relationships. Now that has changed. On the other hand, today he feels the defeats in a different way. He no longer takes it so badly when he loses, although he still maintains his competitive spirit.
Q. Has it changed more from 2014 to 2018 or from 2018 to 2022?
Guillem Balagué: From 2018 to 2022. He has changed clubs and accumulated frustrations, many of which he had never imagined. He has had to adapt to circumstances that have overcome him. He suffered because he wasn't where he wanted to be, he suffered because of relationships, he suffered because of a covid that complicated him, he suffered because it took an hour to get to training... From 2014 to 2018, on the other hand, he experienced a maturation more natural, also the result of parenthood.
Q. It wouldn't have been a bad thing for him to go to therapy to deal with the last few years...
Guillem Balagué: We all need therapy. Leo went there for a time when he was at Barça. He visited with Imma Puig, but he did not quite open up to her. Maybe these years I should have tried again.
Q. Has Messi reviewed every paragraph of the biography?
Guillem Balagué: Of course. And even if he didn't ask for it, I would still show it there for him to read. It is an authorized biography and will remain forever. I want to know if I get it right.
Q. Is it difficult to separate the label of biographer from that of journalist?
Guillem Balagué: I tell stories beyond the platform. My job, my talent and my passion is telling stories. The book contains journalism, but also literature, sociology, psychology...
Q. How do you explain the trauma of Barça's reluctant departure?
Guillem Balagué: Imagine how he took it if he explained to his children that he would continue at the club and asked his father to negotiate a new contract... Literally, when he traveled from Ibiza to sign he was told that it would not be possible . It was very hard.