OFFICIAL: Leo Messi leaves Barcelona

What looked like a pipe-dream a few weeks ago and started to formulate this Thursday 5th August is now official. Leo Messi and Barcelona, after a whole life together, are going their separate ways. 

The Argentine will therefore leave the Catalan club with whom he made his debut way back in the 2004/05 season. Now, after 16 years in the first team, the world star will start a new adventure away from the Camp Nou for the first time in his professional career.

Over the last few weeks, ever since the number 10 terminated his contract, Barcelona and the Board of Directors led by Joan Laporta worked tirelessly to try and find a way to fit in the posible contract renewal of their club captain in the most delicate economic climate. His continuity looked to be all but completed and was reportedly set to be announced this Thursday, but the events turned on their head in a matter of hours. 

The negotiations between both parties broke down at once due to the club's difficulties being able to guarantee the registration of the player due to his exorbitant salary demands. It was the final straw for the patience of Messi's father and representative Jorge, who ended the negotations abruptly.

From an agreed renewal to an unexpected farewell

'Marca' and 'RAC1' higlighted in the last few hours this afternoon of Thursday 5th August that Messi's renewal at the Catalan club was practically impossible. Shortly after, following a trail of cross-referenced information regarding the Argentine's future, Barcelona posted a statement which confirmed the news: Messi will no longer be a Barca player.

 

August 5, 2021

"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)", Barca's statement began, who wanted to make it clear that the only problem had been the impossibility of integrating Messi into the squad on a salary level.

"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," the brief piece of writing continued, which was posted on their website and shared via their social media channels. 

To close the statement, the club wanted to wish the best player in their history all the best for the future. "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 concluded.

The end of a glorious journey full of success but with a sad ending

In the most unexpected way possible, Leo Messi has put an end to a glorious career with Barcelona, a club at which he arrived as a youngster from Argentina and in which he became what many believe to be the best player in the history of the sport.

Since his debut against Espanyol way back on 16th October 2004 until his final match against Celta this year, Messi made 778 appearances. In that time, he scored a staggering 672 goals and compiled an impressive list of honours both on the individual and collective level.

Leo Messi leaves an incomparible list of trophies for the history books: ten La Ligas, four Champions Leagues, six Copa del Reys, three Club World Cups, three European Super Cups, six Ballon D'Ors, six Golden Boots... An unbelievable rostre of awards that he will continue to build on at his next club.