FC Barcelona announce Leo Messi will not be staying at the club
Argentina striker Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles (Spanish Liga regulations).
As a result of this situation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled.
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FC Barcelona wholeheartedly expresses its gratitude to the player for his contribution to the aggrandisement of the club and wishes him all the very best for the future in his personal and professional life.
Messi had been at the club for 21 years, having joined at the age of just 13.
He played 810 times for the club, scoring 683 goals. He also helped them to 34 trophies.
Messi leaves the club as the best player in the club’s history, and as arguably the greatest player of all time.