Gary Lineker tears into Barcelona after Lionel Messi leaves on a free – ‘mess’

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Gary Lineker has given a scathing verdict on the news Lionel Messi has left Barcelona. Messi is no longer a Barca player after the club were unable to finance his new contract. Barca say “financial and structural obstacles” prevented the Argentine from being given a deal.

Messi will leave Barca as the greatest player in the club’s history.

He has scored an astonishing 672 goals since making his debut back in 2004.

Messi is the top goalscorer in the history of La Liga and has won six Ballon d’Ors.

And Lineker cannot understand how the situation has panned out as it has.

The former Barca striker has mocked the club’s famous motto ‘Mes que un club’, which translates to ‘More than a club’.

Lineker has described the situation as a “Mess”, tweeting: “Club statement.

“How on earth have they got themselves into this predicament? Mess que un club.”

Paris Saint-Germain are favourites to sign Messi following his release.

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Manchester City have shown interest in the past but are focusing on signing Jack Grealish and Harry Kane instead.

Lineker has previously described Messi as the greatest player of all time, claiming he is a long way ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lineker told the BBC last year: “I am a huge fan of Ronaldo too, but if you’re talking about the best player ever, there shouldn’t even be a debate that it is Messi. That’s just my opinion, but it’s not even close for me.

“Messi has obviously played in some great teams during his time there but, whoever has been alongside him, his amazing numbers have carried on exactly the same.

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“He has proved the doubters wrong, time and time again.

“Even for the past couple of seasons, when the Barca team has not been anything like as strong as it was in the past, his contribution has not dipped. In fact, they have been a real mess without him.

“It’s rare for any player to stay with one club now, in the way Messi has with Barcelona, let alone someone who moved there from a different country like he did when he left Argentina for Spain, aged 13.”

Barca released the following statement on their website, confirming Messi’s exit.

The statement read: “Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles (Spanish Liga regulations).

“As a result of this situation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled.

“FC Barcelona wholeheartedly expresses its gratitude to the player for his contribution to the aggrandisement of the club and wishes him all the very best for the future in his personal and professional life.”

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