Five years after Barcelona announced Lionel Messi would leave the club, the circumstances surrounding his departure remain unclear and relations with president Joan Laporta have not been fully repaired.
The news, which shook football, was confirmed on a day in 2021 when Barcelona issued a three-paragraph statement explaining why the Argentina forward would not continue at the club.
“Despite an agreement having been reached between the club and Lionel Messi, with the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of economic and structural obstacles, in accordance with La Liga regulations,” Barcelona said.
The club added: “Given this situation, Lionel Messi will not continue with Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club cannot ultimately be fulfilled.”
Barcelona ended its statement by thanking “the greatest player in history for everything he has given us” and wishing him success in his future personal and professional endeavours.
The announcement formally ended Messi’s long association with Barcelona and separated the club from its most prominent player and record-holder for goals and trophies.
The shock was increased by the fact that Barcelona said an agreement had been reached in principle, only for the deal to collapse because of economic and structural restrictions linked to La Liga’s regulations. The wording made clear that both the club and Messi had wanted to continue together, but that the required contract could not be completed.
Five years on, Spanish newspaper AS says the precise reasons for Messi’s departure remain uncertain. It also reported that the forward still has strong feelings for Barcelona, pointing to comments he has made whenever the opportunity has arisen.
Among the moments cited was Messi’s night-time visit to Camp Nou while the stadium was undergoing redevelopment. His tears when he left Barcelona have also been seen as evidence of the emotional connection that remains between the player and the club.
However, AS reported that a dispute developed between Messi and Laporta, creating a rift that subsequent attempts at reconciliation have failed to resolve fully.
Those efforts have produced little beyond promises of a statue in Messi’s honour and a testimonial match. No wider settlement has been reached, according to the report, leaving the disagreement as part of the continuing story of his departure.
Despite the dispute, the decision did not damage Laporta electorally. During the five years since Messi left, the Barcelona president has won three league titles, two Spanish Super Cups and one domestic cup.
For Barcelona, the anniversary is therefore both a reminder of the club’s most painful recent departure and a measure of how much its history remains tied to Messi. The statement that announced the end of his time at Camp Nou may have been brief, but its sporting and personal consequences have continued long after it was issued.
