Madrid, Aug 14 (AP) Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti confessed he was surprised to see Lionel Messi leave Barcelona after so many years with the Catalan club to join PSG, but added that 42 years of experience in football taught him that anything can happen.

"Yes, I was a bit surprised, clearly so, because (Lionel) Messi since he was a kid has been a symbol for Barcelona. That's why I was surprised" the Italian said.

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"But I have been in football for 42 years so I am not really surprised that a player can change his club. Messi, who spent so much time at Barcelona, did it. I have the outmost respect for the decision Barcelona made and also for the decision Messi made." (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)