Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona after ‘obstacles’ thwart contract renewal

• Messi has spent whole career at Spanish club and is free agent
• Barcelona say La Liga regulations made new deal impossible

Barcelona have announced that Lionel Messi is leaving the club after financial and structural obstacles" made it impossible to renew his contract. The forward, who has spent his whole career there, had been expected to re-sign after his deal expired in June.

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)," the club said.