Lionel Messi To Leave Barcelona due to “Financial Structural Obstacles.”

Argentina striker Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona despite both parties have reached an agreement over a new contract, the La Liga club said on Thursday citing economic and structural obstacles to the renewal of the deal.

"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 La Liga regulations)," Barca said in a statement.

“Faced with this situation, Lionel Messi will not remain linked to Barcelona. Both sides deeply regret that the wishes of both the player and club cannot come true.”

Lionel Messi joined the Barcelona club when he was 13 years old and at age of 17, he made his competitive debut. Messi is the club’s all the time top scorer with 672 in a record 778 appearance.

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He is considered one of the most remarkable athletes because he has established records for goals scored and won individual awards en route to worldwide recognition as one of the best players in soccer.

The Argentinian made no immediate official statement.

Messi was free to negotiate a transfer with other clubs after his deal ran out at the end of June but Barcelona had always maintained he wanted to stay with the club. 

In August 2020, he tried to leave Barcelona but his successor Joan Laporta convinced him to stay.