Lionel Messi is FC Barcelona’s most iconic player ever. After making it to Barcelona’s main team from the youth academy at the age of 17, the Argentinian went on to make history over the course of 18 years. Messi won countless team and individual accolades with the club, establishing his name among Barcelona’s all-time legends.
However, his departure from Barcelona was unfortunately a not-so-glorious one. Despite being one of Barcelona’s most successful players, the Catalan club failed to end their relationship with Messi on good terms. Messi’s former international teammate, Sergio Aguero, recently gave us an insight into the bitter end of Messi and Barcelona’s relationship.
Sergio Aguero sheds light on Lionel Messi’s failed contract extension at Barcelona
Messi’s international teammate and friend Sergio Aguero decided to join FC Barcelona from Manchester City in 2021 in order to play together with La Pulga Atomica. Shortly after he arrived on a free transfer, Messi had to leave after failed contract negotiations.
According to Aguero, Messi was eagerly anticipating that Barcelona would renew his contract, even during Copa America, despite rumours emerging that Barcelona president Joan Laporta will not be offering Leo a contract renewal.
In an interview, Aguero said: “During the Copa America Messi had the Barca jersey in his room. Every three day he (Messi) would tell me, ‘I think they renewed my contract. You are going to have to take the photo of me with the jersey for the official announcement.’ And every time we were prepared they told him not yet.”
Damn 💔 pic.twitter.com/HwG1ZdQHRL
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 6, 2023
Why did Barcelona fail to offer Lionel Messi a contract extension?
It has already been two years since the 36-year-old left Barcelona after the Catalan club failed to extend his contract. Lionel Messi left Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent and spent 2 years there, after which there were speculations that he would make a fairytale return to his former club. That didn’t come to fruition, however, mostly due to Barcelona’s financial limitations, and the 7-times Ballon d’Or winner decided to join MLS club Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi had to part ways with Barcelona owing to the fact that Barcelona couldn’t offer him a deal while maintaining LaLiga’s “financial and structural obstacles.”
A club statement read: “Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles (Spanish Liga regulations).
“As a result of this situation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled.
“FC Barcelona wholeheartedly expresses its gratitude to the player for his contribution to the aggrandisement of the club and wishes him all the very best for the future in his personal and professional life.”
It is sad that Messi’s relationship with Barcelona met an unfortunate end; however, the arguably “greatest of all time” has seen success in life after Barcelona. Lionel Messi led his Argentina side to a Copa America triumph in 2021 and his most coveted trophy, the 2022 World Cup. He also won the Ligue 1 with PSG in both years.
Lionel Messi seems to have settled in Miami, having already scored 5 goals in just 3 appearances. Do you think Messi will be equally successful in the MLS as he was in Europe? Make sure to let us know in the comments section.
