A weeping Lionel Messi has said his next move has not been confirmed at an emotional farewell news conference on Sunday, but ESPN sources said a deal with Paris Saint-Germain has already been agreed.
Messi, who has been a free agent since his contract expires at the Camp Nou on June 30, has maintained his silence as Barca announced on Thursday he would not sign new terms due to financial problems.
The Argentine forward said he had received several calls from clubs since the news broke, confirming PSG's interest, and multiple sources told ESPN that he has already agreed to sign for the Ligue 1 side.
Sources said Messi is expected to travel to Paris soon and sign a two-year deal with the option of a third season before completing a medical in the coming days. He may be presented at an event at the Eiffel Tower in the coming days.
"[PSG] is a possibility," Messi said. "Nothing is closed at the moment, but we are talking about a lot of things. After Barca's statement, a lot of clubs showed interest. Nothing is final, but of course, talks are taking place "
Asked about the possibility of joining a rival, he said: "There is no doubt that I will go to a team that will compete with Barca. I did not want to leave, but I have to. And I would win. I want to stay. That's my mindset. I want to win."
Messi said a photo of him at the Spanish island resort of Ibiza last week with several PSG players, including Neymar and Angel Di Maria, was only a coincidence, although he said he joked about moving to Paris.
Instead, at an event in the Camp Nou auditorium attended by the board's first team and his family, Messi insisted he did everything possible to stay at Barca.
"I'm really sad because I didn't want to leave because this is the club I love," he said. "I didn't expect it. I've never lied; I've always been honest and up front. Last year I wanted to quit; this year I didn't. So I'm very sad."
"As the president [Joan Laporta] has explained, the club has debt [problems]. It's not possible. If it's almost impossible why continue to take it out? Talks stopped because Barca didn't want to go ahead, they Knew that LaLiga would not happen, it was impossible.
"I did everything I could to live and it was not possible. I offered to reduce my salary by 50% and Barca didn't ask for anything else. They didn't ask for another 30%; it's a lie. "
Messi, 34, had agreed to a new five-year contract with Barca, but that would mean the club's salary bill amounted to 110% of their revenue. His spending limit with LaLiga has fallen from €600m in 2019-20 to an estimated €200m for the coming season, making it impossible for Messi to register a new deal even with a major pay cut. His previous terms included about €70m gross basic salary without bonus.
He wrote a farewell message on social media that read: "I would have preferred to go the other way, although I think a farewell can never be anything good. I would have preferred to continue here, I did everything with that purpose and In the end it did not happen.
"I only have words of thanks to everyone who has been with me over the years at the club. And to our fans, that they gave me all their love and I tried to give it back, everything for it. Given. Shirt. I'm leaving but it's not goodbye, just see you later. Visca el barca!"
Messi also lamented that he was unable to say goodbye on the pitch with fans chanting names, adding that his last 18 months at the club have been played in empty stadiums due to the pandemic.
"There is no doubt that this is the most difficult time of my career," Messi told a news conference. "I have had very tough moments, but the other day, [was learning] not going back to training, not going to pitch again, that it's the end with this club, yes, that's one of them. Hardest moment for me.
"This year is different from last year [when I wanted to leave]. My family and I were convinced we were going to stay, that's what we wanted more than anything. We're here at home. Now I have to say goodbye to everyone It's out of it. I've been here since I was 13. After 21 years, I'm going to be with my wife, with my three little Catalan-Argentinian kids. I can't say we won't be back anyway because This is our home and I promised my kids that we would."
LaLiga also posted a tribute on social media, saying: "Together we made history. Proud to see you become a legend. Thank you, Leo Messi."
With 672 goals in 778 games for Barca, Messi went on to be both the club's record appearance maker and top goal scorer. However, he maintains that no man appears before the club and assured supporters that even without him a team is built for success.
"Barca are one of the best teams in the world, they have an amazing side," he said. "Not now but in the future more players will come. Players come and go. As Laporta said, nobody comes before the club. At first it will be strange, but people will get used to it."