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'Imagine': Bombshell Lionel Messi news rocks football world

Lionel Messi looking dejected after Bayern Munich score.
Reports suggest Lionel Messi wants to leave Barcelona for a new club before his contact runs out. (Getty Images)

Barcelona icon Lionel Messi is reportedly set to leave the Catalan club this year in what could be the most dramatic transfer of all time.

Messi, arguably the greatest footballer of all time, cut a dejected figure after Bayern dismantled Barcelona 8-2 and set multiple records in their Champions League knockout match.

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It’s been 44 years since the last time Barcelona had conceded five in a single European clash, when they went down 5-4 to Levski Sofia in March 1976 in the UEFA Cup.

Yet another historic worst was thus recorded, with Barca conceding eight goals in a single match for the first time since 1946, when Sevilla inflicted an 8-0 thrashing on the Catalans in the Copa del Rey.

The humiliating result, plus the apparent restructuring of the squad in the twilight of Messi’s career, has sparked rumours he wants to leave sooner rather than later.

But in a huge development, the reporter who broke Neymar’s departure from Barcelona for a world-record fee to PSG has also claimed Messi wants out now.

This is despite one more year left on the 33-year-old’s contract, according to Marcelo Bechler for the Brazilian outlet Esporte Interativo.

Football fans reacted to the reports Messi could end up in the Premier League.

Souness calls for City and United to sign Messi

Despite the reports, it is likely Messi will line-up for Barcelona when La Liga starts shortly for the 2020-21 season.

But a Messi-less Camp Nou seems unthinkable considering the Argentine has stunned fans at his boyhood club for more than 16 years.

Lionel Messi looks on during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Lionel Messi (pictured right) looks on during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 14, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

While Graeme Souness said Manchester United and City shouldn’t waste anytime signing the mercurial forward if he were to hand in a transfer request, many still can’t fathom Messi wearing another jersey.

Messi signed a new deal in 2017 with Barcelona with a buyout clause reportedly worth $1.1 billion.

With Stats Perform News