Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wants to leave the club.Not only that, but he wants to activate a clause that had apparently expired to terminate his contract with immediate effect.According to several reports, Messi has informed the club by fax that he wants to leave Camp Nou after 29 years at the club.Marca write: “In theory, this clause had to be activated before June 1, but the unusual circumstances of the coronavirus-enforced pause in the season mean that he may be able to request an exit now in the off-season.”The news has been confirmed by several journalists and respectable outlets.Alfredo Martinez tweeted: "Today is a very sad day for Barça fans. Leo Messi announces that he does not want to continue at Barcelona. After 29 years and 17 in the professional squad, the greatest player in history wants to go, and Bartomeu stays. The president who has not been able to retain him cannot continue."
While Barcelona reportedly confirmed the news to Associated Press.
If that wasn’t enough to break the hearts of Barca fans from around the world, their former captain Carles Puyol stuck the knife in.
After hearing the news, he tweeted: “Respect and admiration, Leo. All my support, man.”
Luis Suarez replied to Puyol's tweet with just two emojis.
Suarez was reportedly told he wasn't needed at Barcelona next season by Ronald Koeman with the club wanting to terminate his contract.
Not only did the pair confirm the news but they were also encouraging Messi to leave.
Wow.
Now, there will no doubt be an almighty legal battle over whether Messi can actually exploit the clause in his contract that was supposed to have expired.
He and his team appear to believe they can, while the club will no doubt put up a fight to keep the greatest player of all time.
This is a transfer saga to end all transfer sagas.