A 21-year chapter has finally closed for Lionel Messi at Barcelona, with the Argentine now looking for his next adventure after the Spanish giants confirmed he would not be signing a new deal.
A tumultous couple of years has ended in heartbreak for Barca, who had done everything possible to keep their talisman at the Nou Camp, only to be undone by financial constraints as they battled to offload players and jump through hoops to cling on to the superstar.
The club blamed LaLiga over 'economic obstacles' that prevented them from handing him a lucrative new deal, with the player reportedly U-turning on his decision to re-sign amid anger over his pay-cut, as well as at the state of the squad.