Madrid: Although the two sides have reached an agreement on a new contract, the Argentine forward Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona. The La Liga club said on Thursday that the reason was economic and structural obstacles to the renewal.

Barcelona said in a statement: “Although FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi have reached an agreement, and both parties clearly intend to sign a new contract today, due to financial and structural obstacles (Spanish La Liga regulations), This can’t happen.”

“Barcelona FC sincerely thank the player for his contribution to the growth of the club and wish him all the best in his personal and professional future.”

Messi is free to negotiate transfers with other clubs after the deal expires at the end of June, but Barcelona has always insisted that he wants to stay at the club. According to reports, the 34-year-old player will sign a new five-year contract.

Messi tried to leave Barcelona in August 2020, and formally requested to withdraw after his relationship with the then chairman Josep Maria Bartomeu broke down, but Joan Rapol, the successor of the host of the rise of the Argentine Tower convinced him to stay.

Messi joined Barcelona’s youth team at the age of 13. He is the club’s best scorer and appearance maker in history, scoring 672 goals in 778 games in all competitions.