Lionel Messi was all set to renew his contract with Barcelona, but in a shocking revelation, Messi will not be staying at FC Barcelona anymore. Messi played his first senior game for Barca in 2004.
Barcelona: The biggest name in football, Lionel Messi has decided to end his association with the Spanish club, FC Barcelona. He was 14 when he joined the club, he’s now 33, so Messi has remained a senior club at FC Barcelona all his life. It’s a shock as Messi was supposed to sign a new contract with Barca at a lower salary, as has been reported.
The information was shared by the official FC Barcelona Twitter account.
Here is the official statement from the Spanish Club:
“Despite an agreement between Barca and Leo Messi and with the clear intention of both sides to sign a new contract today, it will not be possible to formalize due to economic and structural obstacles (Spanish La Liga regulations ).
Due to this situation, Messi will not stay at FC Barcelona. Both sides deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club were ultimately not granted.
FC Barcelona wholeheartedly expresses their gratitude to the player for his contribution to the club’s expansion and wishes him the best for the future in his personal and professional life. “
Earlier today, the Spanish media MARCA announced that Messi would not renew his contract with FC Barcelona. Football fans are in shock after this latest development.
As previously reported after Barcelona’s humiliating 8-2 Champions League defeat, Messi almost forced his exit from the club but triggered a clause that made him a free agent. But later Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said such a clause did not exist.
Lionel Messi has played for FC Barcelona throughout his 18-year senior career following his debut in 2004. He has spent his entire senior career playing for Barcelona.
