FC Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi has called off negotiations over renewing his contract with the club.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner is ready to leave the Catalans when his current deal expires in 2021.
This is according to a report by Spanish radio station Cadena Ser on Friday.
With Messi having elected not to exercise an option to leave Barca this season, which expired on 10 June, the Argentina superstar now looks set to depart in 2021 after reportedly halting talks over a new deal.
According to the report, Messi’s father Jorge, who is his agent had begun discussing renewing his last deal with the club, which was signed in 2017.
The report, however, states that Messi no longer wishes to stay at Camp Nou.
The report added that Messi is angry about leaked media reports that appeared to make him seem responsible for events at the club, such as the January sacking of coach Ernesto Valverde, and that he is frustrated about the squad’s lack of quality.
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Messi, who turned 33 last month, scored his 700th career goal on Tuesday against Atletico Madrid, but the milestone strike ended in disappointment as Barca drew the game 2-2 in the latest blow to their bid to retain the Spanish title.
Barca trail Real Madrid by four points in the title race with five games remaining after Real beat Getafe 1-0 on Thursday.