The Spanish club have said that Argentine striker Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona, citing economic and structural hurdles in renewing the contract.
The two sides had agreed on a new contract, but the La Liga club still made the statement.
According to the report, Barcelona said in a statement: "Despite the agreement between FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract, this cannot happen due to financial and structural hurdles (Spanish La Liga rules and regulations). '
Both sides expressed deep sorrow that the wishes of the players and the club will not be fulfilled in the end.
The club said in a statement: "We are deeply grateful to FC Barcelona for their support of the club and wish them all the best for their future personal and professional lives."
After the contract expired in June, Messi was free to negotiate a transfer with any club, but Barcelona have always said they want to stay with the club. The 34-year-old has reportedly signed a new five-year deal.
Messi also tried to leave the club in August last year and made a formal request following a breakdown in relations with then-president Joseph Maria Bartholomew, but new president John Laporta persuaded him to stay in Barcelona. ۔
Messi, who joined Barcelona's youth set-up at the age of 13, has always been the club's top scorer, scoring 672 goals in 778 games in all competitions.
