Messi to leave Barcelona on free transfer

Lionel Messi could leave Barcelona on a free transfer, Mundo Deportivo reports.

Barca want the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to retire at Camp Nou and plan to offer him a new deal next season, that will keep him until 2022.

However, a clause comes into effect in 2020, which would allow Messi to join a “non-elite” club on a free transfer.

It is the same clause that was inserted in contracts for Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, which saw both Spanish midfielders move to Qatar and Japan respectively.

This comes amid revelations that Messi turned down Manchester City’s offer to “triple the salary he has at Barcelona”.