Lionel Messi Wants To Leave Barcelona, Manchester City Show Interest

In a blockbuster announcement, international superstar Lionel Messi has told Barcelona that he no longer wants to play for the club.

Barcelona confirmed to the Associated Press that Messi sent a document announcing his desire to end his contract. The soccer legend is signed with the club until 2021.

Manchester City have been preparing for Messi to become available, ESPN reported Monday, attempting to figure out how they might be able to sign the Argentine star. By joining City, Messi would be reunited with manager Pep Guardiola. Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel recently said that Messi would be "welcome" to join the club.

It is unclear what other clubs can afford Messi, who has a 700 million-euro ($828 million) buyout clause that was put in place when he signed a four-year deal in 2017. The financial burden of acquiring Messi would weigh heavily given the impact the pandemic has had for even the wealthiest clubs. Real Madrid may have the resources to land Messi but a move to Barcelona's chief rival is highly unexpected.

However, Messi's profile looms so large that any club he joins would see booming attendance and sponsorships, as well as a sizable spike in his jersey sales. The buyout would also mean that Barcelona would have the resources to rebuild their roster.

The decision by Messi comes after Bayern Munich humiliated Barcelona, 8-2, in the Champions League quarterfinals 11 days ago. Barcelona failed to win a trophy for the first time in 12 years.

There had been recent reports of Messi having a falling out with the club. New manager Ronald Koeman, who spent six years with the club as a player, had said he wanted Messi to remain at Nou Camp but Koeman had also told Luis Suarez, one of Messi's closest teammates, that he was free to look to other clubs. In February, Messi lashed out at sporting director Eric Abidal, who was once a teammate of Messi at Barca, for accusing his teammates of not working hard enough under manager Ernesto Valverde.

Messi, regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport's history, joined Barcelona when he was 13 years old, winning a record six Ballon d’Or awards. The 33-year-old has led Barcelona to 10 Spanish league championships and four Champions League titles.