Footballing icon Lionel Messi is set to walk out on Barcelona after the club admitted he's leaving this summer.
The Argentinian signalled a desire to leave the club last year but was convinced to stay on when president Josep Maria Bartomeu stepped down and was replaced by Joan Laporta.
Contract negotiations have continued all summer and appeared close to completion after his successful Copa America triumph with Argentina.
But now Barcelona have confirmed he will depart his only senior professional club at the age of 34 as a free agent.
The bombshell statement reads: "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."
It's thought only a handful of elite clubs could afford Messi's wage demands.
Last summer he was linked with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
