REVEALED: Real reason Messi left Barcelona

Ramon Calderon, a former Real Madrid president, has revealed the main reason Lionel Messi decided to leave Barcelona this summer.

DAILY POST had reported that LaLiga giants, Barcelona announced on Thursday that Messi is no longer their player.

And the 34-year-old, who spent 21 years at the club, scoring 672 goals in 778 appearances, is already in discussion with other top European clubs.

And development, which shocked many, also means that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, will play for another for the first time since he left Newell’s Old Boys as a kid.

Speaking about development, Calderon described it as a big surprise, adfing that he thought Messi was going to get a deal at Barcelona.

He also said it was a bad news for the Catalan giants and great news for their rivals, pointing out that the superstar forward decided to leave because one of his demands to the club was not met.

While Barcelona claim a deal was agreed, it is understood Messi had a change of heart, based largely on the quality of squad at the moment.

According to Calderon, Barcelona’s failure to meet Messi’s demand to sign Argentina teammate Cristian Romero, is the main reason for his exit.

Romero has now joined Tottenham instead, having completed a medical in London on Thursday night.

“Everyone thinks he’s still one of the best, if not the best, player in the world. Barcelona will be weaker and their rivals will have to be happy,” Calderon told talkSPORT.

“In the case of Barcelona, it is not the problem with money. Messi had some requests to strengthen the team, mainly signing Romero, the defender from Atalanta.

“That seems the main reason.”