The fairytale journey of Lionel Messi and Barcelona has come to an end as the Argentine has left the club after both the player and the club failed to sign a contract extension due to La Liga’s financial rules.

Lionel Messi attended a press conference today in Barcelona to bid farewell to his childhood club. Messi started out by thanking everyone present at the conference. He confirmed that an agreement was in place between him and Barcelona to renew their association, but La Liga rulings were put into place and the extension could not be signed. He also acknowledged being devastated about leaving in such a way, and the fact that he hasn’t been able to play in front of the fans for a year.

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Lionel Messi has now posted an emotional farewell message on Instagram. He wrote: “I would have liked to leave in another way, although I suppose that a farewell can never be something nice … I would have loved to continue here, I did everything with that objective and in the end it did not happen. I only have words of thanks for all those who have accompanied me in so many years at the club. And for our fans, that they gave me all their love and that I tried to give it back to them, also giving everything for this shirt. I’m leaving but it’s not goodbye, just see you later. Visca el Barça !!!”

It is truly an end of an era for the club legend. Seeing Messi in a football jersey other than Barcelona was thought to be impossible but now it is slowly turning into reality. French giants PSG are leading the race to sign the Argentine.