Lionel Messi’s tearful farewell to Barcelona - BBC News

Argentine football star Lionel Messi was moved to tears by a standing ovation at a news conference confirming his departure from Barcelona.

Messi is ending his 21-year association with the club, who cannot afford to honour the new contract they agreed with him because of La Liga's salary limit.

Messi, Barcelona's record goalscorer, submitted a transfer request last summer before agreeing to stay for the final year of his contract.

That expired on 1 July and Messi is now in talks over a move to Paris St-Germain, where he would play alongside Kylian Mbappe and former Barca team-mate Neymar.