The six-time world footballer will now officially leave the club. He has been without a contract since July 1st.
The almost unimaginable has come true: Lionel Messi no longer plays for FC Barcelona. The 34-year-old soccer superstar – already without a club since July 1st – will not sign a new contract with his club, which is his heart. The negotiations broke down practically at the last minute on Thursday. What supposedly began around 21 years ago with a signature on a napkin and led to 35 joint titles, among other things, ended with an eight-line press release.
“Even though FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi have reached an agreement and both parties have clearly intended to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen due to financial and structural obstacles (Spanish League rules),” the statement said. “Both sides deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club are ultimately not fulfilled.”
LATEST NEWS | Leo #Messi will not continue with FC Barcelona
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 5, 2021
The association did not initially give details of why it was not possible to continue the cooperation. It could be the rules of financial fair play in Messi's adopted home. The league sets the upper limits of the total allowable amount for club salaries. The upper limit should result from the difference between income and expenditure.
778 games, 672 goals, 35 titles
The fact is, however, that what is looking for its equal in sport is over. In addition to a total of 35 titles with FC Barcelona, Messi was the top scorer with 672 goals in the club's 121-year history. He played 778 games for FC Barcelona, which brought him from Rosario in Argentina in 2000 as a 13-year-old.
Data from SofaScore.
His departure from Barcelona had been on the horizon for a while. A year ago he pushed hard to leave the club. Indiscretions that had harmed him and the team, plus sporting low blows such as the disastrous 2: 8 in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against FC Bayern Munich had permanently damaged the exceptional footballer's relationship with the club.
Salary waiver planned
Messi wanted to leave in 2020, but the stipulated insane 700 million as a transfer fee and the veto of the club's president at the time, Josep Bartomeu, prevented him from doing so. The fact that striker partner Luis Suarez (34) was later sold and celebrated the championship title with Atletico Madrid did not exactly alleviate Messi's displeasure.
In March of this year, Joan Laporte returned to the post of club boss. Hopes grew again that Messi would placate and opt for another contract. Laporte had been president before – when Messi's professional career at Barca began at the age of 17. The exceptional talent made his debut in adult football on October 16, 2004 in the league against city rivals Espanyol (1-0).
Yusuf Demir is now one year older. Austria's midfield hope, which last showed in friendly matches for Barcelona and could be committed by the Catalans after a year on loan for a € 10m transfer to Rapid Vienna, will not benefit from the side of Messi in the near future to play.
Hopes had been high after Barca announced the signing of Messi's close friend Sergio Aguero (33) from ManCity at the end of May. Messi should be persuaded to stay. According to media reports, the superstar even wanted to forego half of his previous salary and sign for another five years. After his family vacation in Miami and Ibiza, everything should be made clear. But then everything turned out differently.
