Messi nears shock Barcelona exit as contract issues deemed ‘impossible to resolve'

Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi is reportedly nearing an official Barcelona exit after his contract issues have been deemed virtually impossible to resolve.

The Blaugrana have been under pressure to comply with La Liga's financial regulations this summer.

The club have been struggling under the weight of immense financial pressure over the past few months, and renewing their talisman's contract may yet prove a bridge too far. 

A deal to ensure Messi's future was secure at the Camp Nou was widely believed to be in the pipeline, although the official announcement was put on hold. 

Technically, the Catalans’ best ever player is still a free agent after his existing contract expired over a month ago. 

The Argentine International has 'never been further from renewing with Barcelona than today'. Marca reports.

The club faced the prospect of drastically slashing their wage bill before announcing Messi, along with a host of their summer signings. 

However, with massive earners like Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho still firmly in Catalonia, the report claims that the negotiations have reached 'a point of no return'.