Barcelona have stunned the footballing world with a statement which confirms that Lionel Messi is leaving the club after they failed to secure a new contract.
The 34-year-old Argentinean will not be signing a new contract and, with his most recent having expired in June, he is now the world's most coveted free agent.
Lionel Messi to leave Barcelona after 21 years
LATEST NEWS | Leo #Messi will not continue with FC Barcelona
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 5, 2021
It appears that the decision on a new contract was taken out of Messi and Barcelona's hands, as the club's dire financial situation - coupled with La Liga sanctions - prevented the club from keeping Messi on. In a statement posted on their website, Barcelona said:
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.
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.
The saga of Messi's departure was a long-winded one. In August 2020, in the aftermath of an 8-2 Champions League quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich, Messi formally requested to leave.
He was ultimately convinced to see out the final year of his contract, and talks of a new deal had appeared to be progressing well - but this sudden shift sees him leave the club he has been at since his teenage years.
Messi arrived at Barcelona in 2000 at the age of just 13, where he joined the schoolboy teams. In his time at Barcelona, he was instrumental in four Champions League triumphs, scoring in the finals in 2009 and 2011.
Individually, Messi's time at the club also brought him great success, as he took home six Ballon d'Ors.
The Argentinean is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, if not the greatest. His rivalry with contemporary Cristiano Ronaldo defined much of his time at Barcelona, and his recent triumph in the Copa America with Argentina has added to his stock significantly.
The world's biggest clubs will now surely scramble to assess the viability of signing Messi. Potential destinations touted for the playmaker are Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City (or, perhaps, United), or late-career moves to Italy or the United States.
The story of Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona is not quite a bombshell, but after a summer of positive contract talks the news has certainly taken the sporting world by storm. His next move will surely be the biggest transfer of the summer.
SEE ALSO: Carragher Compares Harry Kane Situation To Gerrard's Liverpool Conundrum
