Lionel Messi to leave Barcelona as club blame La Liga for ‘financial obstacles’ blocking new contract

Lionel Messi may have played his last game for Barcelona after the Spanish giants said they have given up on pinning their superstar down to a fresh contract, blaming La Liga for his exit.

Messi was expected to sign a new deal with the Nou Camp club worth around £200m that would keep him on their books for the foreseeable future.

The Argentine, who won the Copa America last month, is currently without a club after his contract expired at the end of last season.

But Barcelona’s inability to sell other players to free up salary space within La Liga’s wage cap means they have no choice but to let the 34-year-old leave.

“Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles (Spanish Liga regulations),” a Barca statement read.

“As a result of this situation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled.

“FC Barcelona wholeheartedly expresses its gratitude to the player for his contribution to the aggrandisement of the club and wishes him all the very best for the future in his personal and professional life.”

The main issue concerns the salary rules in Spain. La Liga’s wage cap and the financial struggles facing the club means regardless of what they offered the Argentine, they needed to sell other stars to get his contract under the cap.

But the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Miralem Pjanic aren’t interested in leaving, and few clubs can afford them in a European transfer market that is strapped for cash.

The statement comes as La Liga faces opposition to its plans to sell a stake in its business to American private equity firm CVC. Barca were thought to be prepared to accept La Liga’s agreement, which would have earned the league £2.3bn, with around £212m going to the Nou Camp.

But in a twist, it appears as though club president Joan Laporta prefers to pursue the European Super League idea – which has been rejected in Germany and France, and appears to have lost the support of English clubs – rather than accept the CVC deal.

With no fresh funds arriving at Barca this summer, the club simply cannot afford to keep Messi, who at the age of 34 can still command a huge wage packet.

Where Messi ends up remains to be seen. The forward will likely court the attention of super-rich clubs Manchester City and PSG, while MLS could also be an option.

Messi’s next club odds

• PSG 10-11
• Manchester City 21-10
• To stay at Barcelona 10-3
• Any MLS club 11-1
• Inter Milan 12-1
• Manchester United 18-1
• Newell’s Old Boys 20-1

via Betfair