A tearful Lionel Messi confirmed on Sunday he was leaving FC Barcelona after the club said it could no longer afford paying its Argentine talisman’s high wages without jeopardising its future.
The 34-year-old, who has been at the club for 21 years, becoming its all-time goalscorer with 682, broke down in tears before giving a speech and was greeted by a lengthy standing ovation from the media, current and former teammates and coaches in attendance.
Messi did not say what his immediate plans were, but after French newspaper L’Equipe reported on Friday that he was set to join Paris St Germain after their manager Mauricio Pochettino told reporters that Messi was an “option”, the Argentine confirmed that it was “a possibility”. However, he insisted that at this moment in time, he has not agreed a move anywhere.
Messi has spent his entire career with Barcelona after signing on with the club in 2004.