Spanish club Barcelona have confirmed that Lionel Messi will no longer be signing a new contract to extend his stay at the club.
The Argentine star’s latest deal expired this summer but he was widely tipped and expected to commit to a new contract ahead of the new season.
As reported by Goal, Messi held talks with Barcelona on Thursday and although both parties hoped to reach an agreement that would see the superstar remain at Camp Nou, some grey areas saw the agreement fall through.
A statement on the club’s website read: “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.”
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