Superstar Lionel Messi tells Barcelona he wants to leave the club

Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wants to leave after nearly two decades with the Spanish giants. The club confirmed to The Associated Press that the Argentina great sent a document expressing his desire to leave.

The announcement came 11 days after Barcelona’s humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals, one of the worst defeats in the player’s career and in club history. The loss capped a difficult season for Barcelona — the first without a title since 2007-08 — and ignited one of its worst crises ever. Messi had been outspoken about his dissatisfaction with some of Barcelona’s decisions this season.

The 33-year-old Messi has won a record six Ballon d’Or awards at Barcelona as the top player in the world, and has helped the club win 10 Spanish league titles and four Champions League crowns. However, his attempt to exit the club could now lead to a legal battle between the two sides over a clause in his contract.

Barcelona said the document sent by Messi referenced a clause allowing him to leave for free at the end of the season. However, the club said the deadline for triggering that clause expired in June and that it would seek legal advice. Messi’s contract also includes a 700-million euro ($826 million) buyout clause.

The Spanish season would normally have ended in May but was pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic.

If Messi can leave for free, he’ll have no shortage of suitors. However, only a few clubs could realistically afford to pay him even without a transfer fee, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City seen as possible destinations.