Lionel Messi will not continue at Barcelona
Argentinian star footballer Lionel Messi will leave FC Barcelona due to 'financial and structural obstacles', the Spanish club announced on Thursday night. The record-breaking six-times Ballon d'Or winner was the captain of Catalans.
Culés, FC Barcelona's fans, across the world are shocked by the announcement.
“Despite having reached an agreement between Barça and Leo Messi and with the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, it will not be possible to formalize due to economic and structural obstacles (Spanish LaLiga regulations)," reads the statement published on Barcelona website.
Messi's exit will be the end of an era for Spanish giants. The footballing legend has scored 672 goals for the club in 778 matches.
He was behind all four European champions league trophies won by Barca, playing along side finest players in the world. Barca signed 13-year-old Messi in 2000 for their youth academy, La Masia, on a napkin.
Although there are no reports on where the legendary player will go next, clubs like English club Manchester City, French title holder Paris Saint-Germain are likely to be frontrunners to sign him.
