In news that shocked the world on Thursday, Barcelona announced that Lionel Messi’s two-decade stay at Barcelona was over after “financial and structural obstacles” prevented the Argentine from signing a new deal.
A statement on the Catalan giants’ official website said: “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).
“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.”
Barca president Joan Laporta gave a press conference on Friday morning where he declared the talks over extending Messi’s 21-year stay with the club were “over”.
“The negotiation (with Messi) is over,” he added. “La Liga are not flexible with their salary limit, they would only do so if we mortgaged the broadcast rights of this club for half a century.
“I don’t want to generate false hopes. It is true that the player also has other offers, we heard that during the negotiations. There is also a deadline for us, La Liga is starting soon. The FFP is also clear and the player cannot stay in this (limbo) situation.”
Join us for the latest updates on this developing news story.
Contents
- 1 Barcelona’s concerning wage bill
- 2 That’s all from Messi in Barcelona
- 3 Messi on the deal he made with Barcelona
- 4 Further quotes from the press conference
- 5 Messi confirms the circumstances of his exit
- 6 Messi clarifying he does not want to leave
- 7 The press conference has begun
- 8 Messi will be with us shortly
Barcelona’s concerning wage bill
According to Barcelona, the club have had to part with Messi due to La Liga’s salary cost limits.
There was once a time when Barcelona’s wage bill was the highest in the world but it is now on a par with AC Milan and Tottenham. The Athletic’s Peter Rutzler explains how the club’s finances have reached this position.
That’s all from Messi in Barcelona
But not from us, here, reporting the latest news. We’ll almost certainly have updates thoughout the afternoon as Messi’s next destination becomes clearer.
Here’s our full story from the press conference.
Messi on the deal he made with Barcelona
“I had lowered my salary by 50 per cent, agreed that, and they (Barca) did not ask me for anything else after that. Many things are said which are not true.” And on whether he feels tricked by anyone: “No, we did everything possible, and it could not be. When you don’t speak often, other things come out, everyone else can speak.
“But its not always true. I can only speak for me, I have always been honest, transparent, never tricked anyone. That was always most important for me.”
Further quotes from the press conference
Is Messi angry at La Liga for his exit? “I only know it is not possible for La Liga, for the club’s debts, that the club cannot go further in debt. I have nothing to say about Tebas, just met him a few times, and it was all friendly. I have no problem with Tebas, me.”
Messi confirms the circumstances of his exit
When asked about what happened, he said: “My new contract was done. All done. I wanted to stay and when I came back from holidays, it was done. … At the last minute with everything with La Liga, it couldn’t happen.”
Messi clarifying he does not want to leave
Some quotes from the forward: “I’ve been thinking for a few days, I think about what I could say, but I’m stuck. It’s very difficult for me, after so many years, my whole life here … I’m not ready.”
The press conference has begun
And Messi is already in tears – if you had any doubts over whether this is happening, cast them aside now.
Messi will be with us shortly
The press conference is scheduled to kick-off at 11am GMT. It’ll be interesting to hear what the forward says about his exit from Barcelona, his next destination and more.
