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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Nathan Ridley

Piers Morgan's Lionel Messi swipe as Barcelona announce exit of 'world's second best player'

Piers Morgan has taken a swipe at Lionel Messi after it his Barcelona exit was announced.

The divisive journalist and TV presenter labelled him the 'world's second best player.'

News of Messi's departure broke on Thursday evening after the Spanish club revealed that 'financial and structural obstacles'couldn't be overcome in negotiations over a new contract at the Nou Camp.

The Argentine had been in Catalonia for 21 years but will now move on despite previous confidence that he'd renew his contract ahead of the new season.

Like many others across social media, Morgan has had his say on the biggest football transfer story of the summer.

The 56-year-old tweeted : "Amazing to see the world’s second best footballer performing the world’s second most iconic walk-out of the year."

Presumably, Morgan means that Cristiano Ronaldo is currently top of the tree and then referenced his infamous Good Morning Britain walk-out in March.

He then followed up by saying: "Barcelona should retire the No10 shirt immediately in honour of the greatest player to ever wear that number for the club."

The image below, however, was of Brazilian icon Ronaldinho, who spent five years with Barcelona before Messi took his shirt number in 2008.

Now a new era for both the six-time Ballon d'Or winner and the Catalan club will begin after a fractious parting of ways.

Barca's financial woes and La Liga's regulations have been a hot topic since the beginning of the global pandemic, forcing the Blaugrana into somewhat of a fire sale over the last 12 months in order to fund a new deal for their star man.

Barcelona are currently operating above their salary limit.

This was a cap imposed by La Liga, as voted for by its member clubs, that means all clubs must operate within their spending capabilities.

Lionel Messi achieved a career-long goal this summer, winning the Copa America with Argentina (Lionel Messi achieved a career-long goal this summer, winning the Copa America with Argentina)

Therefore, in spite of Messi and the Nou Camp hierarchy agreeing on a new contract, it couldn't be signed.

The Barca captain's triumphant exploits at the Copa America delayed talks, and just three weeks ago, president Joan Laporta - who the 34-year-old backed in the March elections - stated that there had been "good progress with the negotiations."

Messi had reportedly agreed to half his salary and continue his legacy where it all began.

Now, though, his next move will be the epicentre of the transfer window.

Paris Saint-Germain are said to have made direct contact with the superstar, with former team-mate Neymar and a strong Argentine contingent plying their trade in the French capital, including manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The Qatari-backed club, along with Manchester City, were the favourites to sign him last summer but his €700million (£630m) release clause would've had to have been paid.

Messi's move could mean PSG's Kylian Mbappe heads to Barcelona's bitter rivals, Real Madrid, to balance the books, while City would surely be unable to sign both England captain Harry Kane and the Blaugrana legend in the same few weeks.

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