Football Football Messi to leave Barcelona Barcelona's talismanic footballer Lionel Messi will not continue with the club next season, drawing an end to an extraordinary 17-year career. Team Sportstar 05 August, 2021 23:27 IST Lionel Messi will leave the Spanish giant as its most prolific goal-scorer while topping the charts in La Liga over a 17-year career. - GETTY IMAGES Team Sportstar 05 August, 2021 23:27 IST In a shocking revelation on Thursday night, Barcelona announced club legend Lionel Messi will not continue with the Spanish giant."Despite having reached an agreement between Barcelona and Leo Messi and with the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, it will not be possible to formalize due to economic and structural obstacles (Spanish LaLiga regulations)," the official statement read."Faced with this situation, Lionel Messi will not continue to be linked to Barcelona. The two parties deeply regret that the wishes of both the player and the Club cannot finally be fulfilled. Barca wants to thank with all the heart the player's contribution to the aggrandizement of the institution and wishes him the best in his personal and professional life".Messi, whose Barcelona contract contract expired at the end of June and was slated as a free agent, was expected to sign a fresh five year deal with Barca ahead of the upcoming La Liga season. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona) Messi had tried to leave Barcelona in August 2020, making a formal request for an exit after a break down in his relationship with then president Josep Maria Bartomeu but successor Joan Laporta, who presided over the Argentine's rise to greatness, convinced him to stay. Messi, who joined Barca's youth set up aged 13, is the club's all-time top scorer and appearance maker with 672 goals in 778 games in all competitions.Manchester City and Paris-Saint-Germain could be prospective suitors, where he could either link up with former boss Pep Guardiola at City or former teammate and friend Neymar at PSG.With inputs from ReutersREACTIONS: Club statement. How on earth have they got themselves in to this predicament? Mess que un club. https://t.co/0OFFHn4ItU— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 5, 2021 My personal opinion: Joan Laporta has just called the bluff of @laliga and the cap…….if you want the BIGGEST attraction in Spanish football to stay in Spain then Tebas must fold. If this is not a bluff then he is sticking two fingers up at the CVC deal #Messi pic.twitter.com/W01ENyoOKe— Joe Morrison (@joefooty) August 5, 2021 Read more stories on Football. For more updates, follow Sportstar on :