Upset Lionel Messi reportedly decided his Barcelona career was finished after new boss Ronald Koeman told him: "Your privileges here are over".
The Dutchman was appointed successor to Quique Setien last week and looks to have moved quickly to assert his authority.
Leaving the Netherlands national team to take the post, Koeman is said to have laid down the law to Messi in a face to face summit.
According to AS, the manager said: “The privileges in the squad are over, you have to do everything for the team. I will be inflexible, you have to think about the team”.
It's said that Messi then concluded he had no future at the club.
Barcelona confirmed earlier on Tuesday evening their skipper had handed in a formal request via fax to have his contract terminated.
The club have since held an emergency board meeting in response to the dramatic development.
Messi's team-mate Luis Suarez, also linked with an exit, has appeared to back the Argentine on social media.
Former Barca skipper Carles Puyol Tweeted his support for Messi on social media, to which Suarez simply added two "applause" emojis.
Reports elsewhere have indicated Koeman has already made Suarez surplus to requirements as he looks to commence a Nou Camp rebuild.
The Catalans were plunged into crisis by a galling 8-2 Champions League quarter-final defeat to eventual winners Bayern Munich.
They also lost out on this year's La Liga title to arch rivals Real Madrid.
