In a statement, Barcelona revealed that they were not able to finalise a contract due to "economic and structural obstacles", leaving Lionel Messi in need to find a new club.
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In what can be classified as earth-shattering news in the world of football, FC Barcelona have confirmed that club legend Lionel Messi will leave the team despite both parties reaching an agreement to sign a new contract. Barcelona have been dealt a severe financial blow by La Liga recently over their wage structure and were instructed to reduce their wage bill by a substantial margin if they wanted their new signings to play this season. Clearly, the club has failed to do so and now must use their last resort, letting go of their greatest ever football player. A statement released by the club on Thursday confirmed the news, and has shaken the footballing world to its core.
“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),” the club statement read.
“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,” it added.
The 34-year-old has spent his entire senior team career at the Catalan club. He joined the club way back in 2003 from Argentine club Newells Old Boys. Since then, he has scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for the senior team. Messi has won countless honours including 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles. He has also won six Ballon d’Ors while he was playing for Barcelona.
Messi had reportedly fallen out with the Barcelona management last year and at the time was pushing for a move. Since then, things have been said to have calmed down between the player and the management. Messi was reportedly interested in prolonging his Barcelona career after the election of Joan Laporta as club president. However, the financial blow that the club has been hit by seems way more serious than previously imagined. Reports had also come from the Camp Nou that the Argentine had agreed to a 50% pay cut. If that news is true, then Barcelona is indeed in a deep financial crisis.
What will be interesting to see now is which club will manage to attain the services of the 34-year-old. Manchester City could be one of the options, especially with Pep Guardiola at the helm. Paris Saint Germain can also be one of the sides Messi might choose. His close friend Neymar and teammate in the Argentina camp Angel Di Maria are regular players at the club. Another option could be a fairy tail move to Juventus which could see him playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. That, however, seems highly unlikely.
Messi will leave the club after what can be classified as one of the greatest club careers in the history of football. The footballer will be remembered by the Camp Nou faithful as their greatest ever legend.
