KEY POINTS

  • FC Barcelona announces that Lionel Messi will be leaving the club via a Facebook post
  • Both parties wanted an extension but can't due to "financial and structural obstacles"
  • The news shocks the sporting world as a deal looked to be done

It is the end of an era at Camp Nou and for La Liga.

In one of the biggest surprises to happen this summer transfer window, Barcelona has declared that Lionel Messi will not be returning to the club.

It was reported just yesterday that the La Liga giants, among other clubs within the top-flight Spanish league, will be receiving a massive injection of cash from a new loan deal with CVC Capital Partners.

Many had believed that the influx of cash will be enough to sign Lionel Messi to a contract extension, alongside confirming the arrival of their summer transfer signings.

The shocking news came via a Facebook post that has since reached a million reactions.

In said post, the club mentions that both parties were very much excited to sign an extension but due to “financial and structural obstacles," a deal could not be made.

Forbes reported that Messi and his father Jorge met with Barcelona management to discuss a new contract but was told by the club that it is “impossible” for him to stay at Camp Nou.

La Liga clubs have felt the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic as they struggled to make ends meet this summer transfer window, affecting their capabilities of building star-studded teams like they have in the past.

RAC1 also tweeted out in Spanish that Messi is “very disappointed because, at the last minute, Barcelona had changed the economic conditions of the new contract "agreed a few weeks ago”.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano indicates that the Argentinian superstar “appreciated Laporta’s honesty” when it came to the situation and that last season’s Ligue 1 runner-ups Paris Saint-Germain is in direct contact with Messi.

Should a move to PSG materialize, the balance of power in France suddenly shifts heavily in their favor, and a run at consecutive French league titles could be in the books.

Messi ends his Barcelona career with totals of 778 appearances, 672 goals, and 305 assists, as well as a wide array of titles including 10 La Liga wins, seven Copa Del Rey trophies, eight Supercopa de Espana titles, four UEFA Champions League wins, three UEFA Super Cup victories and three Club World Cups.

RELATED STORIES
Coronavirus Lionel Messi