In this 2019 file photo, Lionel Messi waves to the crowd as he holds the Spanish La Liga player’s trophy before a soccer match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona say Lionel Messi will not stay at the club. Manu Fernandez / AP Hide caption
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Manu Fernandez / AP
In this 2019 photo, Lionel Messi waves to the crowd as he holds the Spanish La Liga player’s trophy before a soccer match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona say Lionel Messi will not stay at the club.
Manu Fernandez / AP
It’s official: Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi won’t stay with FC Barcelona.
The departure comes less than a month after Messi and Barcelona verbally agreed to a five-year deal.
“Despite an agreement between FC Barcelona and Leo Messi and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, it cannot be formalized due to economic and structural obstacles (in the Spanish LaLiga regulations),” said FC Barcelona in a statement. “Given this situation, Lionel Messi will no longer be linked to FC Barcelona.”
Messi had previously ended his 21-year contract with Barcelona in June. He is currently a free agent.
Josie Fischels is an intern at the NPR News Desk.
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