Barcelona Justifies Messi’s Exit, Says Club Can’t Be Put At Risk

• Messi reached an agreement with Barcelona to sign a reported five-year contract but with the trade-off that he would earn 50 per cent less per year

Barcelona’s negotiations with Lionel Messi are over and the striker is considering other offers, the club’s president Joan Laporta announced on Friday.

Laporta said in a press conference he was not prepared “to put the club at risk” by renewing Messi’s contract, with Barca facing huge financial problems ahead of the start of La Liga.

“Yesterday we realised it was over. I had the last conversation with Leo’s father,” said Laporta.

Read also: Messi Leaves Barcelona As Contract Renewal Negotiations Breakdown

“I do not want to give false hope. The player has other offers and there is a time limit because La Liga starts soon and he needs time to assess his other options.”

Messi reached an agreement with Barcelona to sign a reported five-year contract but with the trade-off that he would earn 50 per cent less per year.

But La Liga’s financial fair play rules, which are expected to reduce Barca’s salary limit to less than 200 million euros this season, led Laporta to conclude they were unable to complete the deal.

“We could not accommodate Messi’s contract,” said Laporta, who was re-elected as club president in March.

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