What club will Messi join after Barcelona exit? Star's 'renewal deal' didn't come through
In 'nightmarish' news for soccer fans', FC Barcelona officially announced on Thursday afternoon, August 5, that Lionel Messi would not be returning to the club. The Argentina striker's deal with the club ran out at the end of June this year and he was free to negotiate a transfer with other clubs but Barcelona always maintained he wanted to stay with the club. Reportedly, the 34-year-old star was supposed to sign a new five-year deal with the club.
A similar furor was caused in August last year when Messi requested for an exit from Barcelona after some sourness in his relationship with then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu. However, Bartomeu's successor Joan Laporta convinced Messi to stay. Messi has spent his entire career at Barcelona after making his senior debut in 2003 and is the club's all-time top scorer and appearance maker with 672 goals in 778 games in all competitions.