Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona after the La Liga club were unable to fulfill a new contract which had been agreed with the player due to “financial and structural obstacles”.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has been officially a free agent since July 1 after failing to agree on the terms of a renewal before his previous contract with Barcelona expired on June 30.
However, the 34-year-old was due to sign a new five-year contract with the Catalan club, which would have seen his salary cut by 50%.
Messi has spent his entire career at Barcelona, going through the club’s academy before scoring 672 goals in 778 appearances after making his senior debut in 2003.
A club statement said: “Although FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi have come to an agreement and the clear intention of both sides to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen due to obstacles financial and structural (regulations of the Spanish Liga).
“Due to this situation Messi will not stay at FC Barcelona. Both sides deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club are ultimately not fulfilled.
“FC Barcelona wholeheartedly express their gratitude to the player for his contribution to the club’s expansion and wish him the best for the future in his personal and professional life.”
More soon….
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Hard decision