Is Messi the most important in the history of a club?
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(CNN) -
With a difficult summer behind him, Lionel Messi says he is determined to "fight for everything" with Barcelona this season.
The Argentine forward tied Pelé's record of 643 goals with a single club at the weekend and could surpass that mark in Barcelona's clash against Real Valladolid on Tuesday.
Lionel Messi equaled Pelé's goal record at a club
Messi, who came close to leaving Barcelona in August amid a dispute with the club's board, says he has renewed his focus for the rest of the season.
«The truth is that today I'm fine.
It's true that I had a very bad time in the summer.
It came from before, ”he said in an interview with the Spanish television channel La Sexta.
«Then came what happened in the summer, the burofax and all that.
So I honestly dragged that into the beginning of the season.
Today I am fine.
«I have the motivation to fight seriously for everything we have ahead of us ... I know that the club is going through a difficult time, at club and team level, and everything that surrounds Barcelona is becoming difficult but I am looking forward ».
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Messi previously said that he wanted to leave Barcelona "all year" and claimed a clause in his contract that allowed him to do so for free, but the 33-year-old was eventually forced to stay because the club did not agree and was not willing to cut. its release clause of 700 million euros ($ 897 million).
He also said his love for the club meant he had no intention of taking the matter to court and prolonging a legal dispute.
Barcelona is currently fifth in La Liga and is eight points behind leader Atlético de Madrid after a difficult start.
Sergiño Dest, the American pearl of Barcelona 3:51
Messi: 'Horrible' to play without fans
On Monday, Messi collected his seventh Pichichi trophy as last season's top scorer in La Liga, beating Telmo Zarra's record of six awards.
He scored 25 goals in 33 league games last season, when Barcelona finished second behind Real Madrid, and has scored six times so far this season.
When collecting his fourth consecutive Pichichi trophy, Messi spoke of the difficulty of playing without fans in the stadiums.
«It is horrible to play without fans.
It is not a pleasant sensation, "he told Marca newspaper.
“Not seeing anyone in the stadium makes it like training, and it takes a lot to get into the game at the beginning.
That is why we see such even games.
"It is very difficult to beat whoever you are playing with."
«The pandemic has made football change a lot, and for the worse.
We are seeing it in games.
Hopefully after all this is over, we can get people back to the stadiums and back to normal. "
Patrick Sung Cuadrado contributed reporting.
Lionel messi
