Lionel Messi will end his 20-year career with Barcelona, a decision certain to spark a high-stakes scramble for the signature of a player widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time.
“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 Spanish LaLiga regulations on player registration. 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. 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,” said the club in a statement.
Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, 34, last month finally landed a major international trophy with Argentina when they beat rivals Brazil to win the Copa America.
But there had been doubts over his continuation at Barcelona ever since he tried to leave last August as a free agent, citing a clause in his contract and saying the club had had “no project or anything for a long time”.
Messi, Barca’s all-time top scorer and appearance maker, ultimately agreed to see out the final year as the club threatened to go to court.
The player, who signed his first contract with Barcelona in 2000 on a napkin when he was just 13, has been a free agent since June 30 when his old agreement expired after Messi had played 788 games for the club.
There had been speculation that Messi would sign on for two years and then potentially head to Major League Soccer, although friend and former Barca teammate Neymar has said he would love to team up with him again at Paris Saint Germain.
Moreover, Paris Saint-Germain are wasting no time in reacting to the news that Lionel Messi is not staying at Barcelona and have already started direct contacts with the player, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
