Lionel Messi wants to leave Barcelona: 10 potential destinations

Manchester City, PSG and China put on red alert after Argentine tells club he wishes to leave on a free transfer

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City scores his team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at at Etihad Stadium on April 17, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

MANCHESTER CITY: Relations between Lionel Messi and Barcelona are at an all time low following the club's record scorer submitting a request by fax stating he wishes to leave - on a free transfer. According to reports, an initial meeting between new coach Ronald Koeman and Messi did not go well, with the Dutchman telling the Argentine his privileges at the club where revoked. A reunion with former Barca mentor Pep Guardiola at City would seem an ideal fit, with the club's Abu Dhabi owners able to match both Messi's wage demands and his ambitions. The man with more than 700 goals to his name could be the missing piece of the puzzle that takes City to Champions League glory. EPA

Steve Luckings

Aug 26, 2020

Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wants to leave - on a free transfer - in a "bombshell" fax on Tuesday that is expected to trigger a legal battle over a buy-out clause worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

epa08625650 (FILE) - FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, traditionally known as 'El Clasico', at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, 01 March 2020, re-issued 25 August 2020. Messi has sent a certified letter to the club on 25 August communicating his intentions to leave the club. EPA/JUANJO MARTIN

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Signalling the end of an era at Barcelona, where Messi is the record scorer and has won four Champions League titles, the disgruntled Argentine wants to terminate his contract "unilaterally" by triggering a release clause.

The news is sure to put any club with the financial clout to put together a tempting package for a player who has scored more than 700 goals for Barca and Argentina on red alert.

Above is a picture gallery of potential destinations. To move through the gallery, simply swipe or click on the arrows.