Argentinean legend Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona, a club where he has played since his childhood and has been on the first team for the past 17 years. In an official statement, Barcelona confirmed that Lionel Messi can't stay at the Spanish club because of financial and structural obstacles. The statement also mentioned that both Messi and the club deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled.
In a dramatic turn of events, the club issued a statement on Thursday night just a few days after their new president Joan Laporta confirmed that Barcelona is making everything possible for Messi to stay at Camp Nou.
Transfer gossip in the English market suggests that Messi is headed to Manchester City to reunite with Pep Guardiola. The Little Magician during his 17-year-long stay with Barcelona has a trophy cabinet with 34 titles including ten La Liga championships, seven Copa del Rey titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies. To add to this, the 34-year-old has won 6 Ballon d'Or awards and sits on top of numerous records in club football.
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