…had believed new deal was agreed.
Lionel Messi has reportedly been ’emotionally destroyed’ by Barcelona announcing his departure from the club.
The Argentine, 34, believed a new deal was close after agreeing terms to a new five-year deal.
Messi was even believed to be willing to accept a 50% reduction in his salary to extend his stay, after officially becoming a free agent on July 1.
Reports in Spain on Wednesday suggested his contract was close to being announced, before the bombshell turnaround on Thursday evening.
Barcelona confirmed Messi’s exit from the club, stating financial restrictions placed on them by La Liga prevented the possibility of Messi staying.
The club also posted a video montage of his best moments in a Barca shirt on Twitter, with the simple caption “Thank you, Leo.”
And according to Diario SPORT, Messi has been ’emotionally destroyed’ by the decision to let him go.
He is not the only one, with a sense of loss palpable on the streets of Barcelona last night – many are devastated by news of Messi’s departure.
The forward himself may be able to bounce back in a way that suits him however, with Paris St Germain keen on signing him.
Manchester City could make a bid to bring him in too but it is believed the Ligue Un giants have offered Messi a huge contract.
And with friends Neymar and Angel Di Maria already at PSG, Messi could quickly find a home in the French capital.
Last month he posed for a photo alongside Neymar, Di Maria and other PSG stars Leonardo Paredes and Marco Verratti in Ibiza.