AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
LIONEL Messi, the football megastar who brought smiles to millions of FC Barcelona fans burst into tears in an emotional farewell to a club he has known since he was a teenager.
Messi delivered the emotional goodbye during his final press conference ahead of an expected move to French giants PSG.
Messi told a media conference, attended by his family and past and present players at Barca that he did all he could to stay with the club he helped win 35 trophies: ‘My contract was never the issue… What I know is that I did everything I could. The club say it could not happen because of La Liga. I can guarantee you that I did everything I could to stay. Last year I didn’t want to and I said that, but this year it was different,” Messi said
The Argentine previously held talks with the Catalan club and there was confidence a deal could be reached. The five-year deal would see the 6-time Ballon D’or winner accept a 50 percent wage reduction to nurse the economic crisis FC Barcelona have faced over the past year.
FC Barcelona released a statement on their website in confirmation “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.” the statement concluded
The Argentine has had a heralded and revered time at FC Barcelona since arriving at the club at 13 years old. Since making his debut aged 16 Messi has won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns among a mass of other individual and team trophies.
Messi recently won a maiden major international trophy with Argentina, lifting the 2021 Copa America
