Lionel Messi is evaluating a departure from Barcelona according to Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo journalist Francesc Aguilar.

Aguilar has claimed that people he trusts greatly have told him that recent reports in the media regarding Messi’s future are far from just made up. Aguilar also admits to being unsure whether Messi has communicated his desire to leave Barcelona to club management yet.

Aguilar goes on to add that Messi’s release clause, which currently sits at €700 million, is prohibitive for all clubs, who would be better waiting until the end of the upcoming season to sign him on a free transfer but the Argentine national team player does not wish to wait that long.

During the 2019/20 season, Messi made 44 appearances across all competitions, in which he scored 31 goals and registered a total of 26 assists.

He took to social media platform Twitter and posted: “I’m starting to worry. People who have all my trust, assure me that Marcelo Bechler is not at all misguided with his news that Lionel Messi is evaluating his departure from the club now. I don’t know if Messi has already communicated it but Leo is very ‘affected’. Danger.”

In a follow up tweet he added: “The other important question regarding the possibility of Lionel Messi leaving Barça is where he can go. His 700 million clause is prohibitive for anyone. They would be better to wait for the end of next season and sign him for free but Leo doesn’t want to wait.”