Lionel Messi Departs Barcelona

Argentina captain, Lionel Messi has finally departed La Liga champions, Barcelona after 16 years of loyalty to the club.

The Barça captain will not continue the adventure with his training club.

A great page of history is turning. After 16 years of good and loyal service with FC Barcelona, ​​

Lionel Messi is leaving the club, officially announced the Catalans this Thursday evening.

An announcement to thunder tunes in Catalonia, while the six-time Golden Ball was back in Barcelona on Thursday to endorse his contract extension, he who was a free agent since 1 st July. It will not be: “Despite an agreement between FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi and the intention of both parties to sign a new contract on Thursday, this will not be possible due to structural and financial obstacles” , announces the club culé in a press release.

The leaders of the Catalan club, in the grip of great financial difficulties (the club’s debt would exceed one billion euros), invoke the impossibility of complying with the salary-cap rules in force in Spain, while the latest astronomical emoluments of the Argentinian were valued at 71 million euros net per year in his last contract. “Thus, Messi will not remain linked to FC Barcelona, ​​continues the Catalan club. Both sides regret that the wishes of the player and the club have not been granted. ” Back from vacation after his first coronation with Argentina at the Copa America, Lionel Messi was expected to calm down in Barcelona, ​​where his contract extension was no longer in doubt.

Involved in one goal per game in La Liga

But Marca and then Radio Catalunya have in turn evoked the impossibility of renewing the contract of “La Pulga”, to the point of evoking a “Messi who has never been so far from Barça” .

The club therefore formalized the painful a few minutes later on its social networks. “FC Barcelona would like to express their gratitude to the player for his contribution to the club’s expansion and wish him the best for his future in his personal and professional life.”

A last sentence like a real farewell letter to the one who recently overtook Xavi in ​​the greatest number of matches played in the Blaugrana jersey (778 today).

To the one who made the rain but especially the good weather in Catalonia, where he took part in the conquest of four Champions Leagues (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015), notably scoring a memorable header goal in the final in Rome ( 2-0 against Manchester United in 2009) and ten league titles in Spain, where he compiled 474 goals and 217 assists in 520 matches, meaning more than one goal per game.

The 34-year-old striker, considered one of the very best players in history, is now officially on the market, unless a new turnaround, which Spanish clubs are accustomed to,