After a 17-year career, Barcelona officially announces Messi’s departure
Barcelona announced on Thursday that legendary soccer player Lionel Messi will leave the club, despite the two parties reaching an agreement to renew the contract after the club cited economic and structural obstacles.
Messi leaves Barcelona
And the Spanish club added in a statement: “Although Barcelona and Lionel Messi have reached an agreement and the clear intention of the two parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot be done due to financial and structural obstacles (La Liga rules).”
Barcelona continued: “As a result of this situation, Messi will not remain in Barcelona, and both parties regret that the wishes of the player and the club cannot be met in the end. Barcelona expresses from the bottom of their heart their gratitude to the player for his contribution to the glorification of the club and we wish him the best in his future in his private and professional life.”
Messi became a free player and can negotiate a move to other clubs after the expiration of his contract last June, and Barcelona has always confirmed that he wants the player to continue, and the media reported that Messi (34) agreed to renew his contract for five years.
Messi tried to leave Barcelona in August 2020 and submitted an official request to leave after breaking off relations with the club’s president at the time, Josep Maria Bartomeu.
But his successor, Joan Laporta, who was a witness to the story of the Argentine star’s rise, persuaded him to stay.
Messi joined Barcelona’s youth academy at the age of 13 and became the club’s all-time leading scorer and most player in his shirt with 672 goals in 778 games in all competitions.
Barcelona legend
Messi won all possible tournaments with Barcelona in a career that lasted 17 years. He is the player who has played the most matches in the team’s shirt (778 games) and is the most scoring player with one club with 672 goals.
Messi is also the historical top scorer in the Spanish League with 474 goals, the player with the most title of best player in the world on six occasions and the Golden Boot for the top scorer in the European continent on six times as well.
Paris Saint-Germain appears to be the closest club to signing Messi in the current summer transfer period through a free transfer deal that will not cost him financially, but in return he will bear the huge salary of the Argentine star.
