Lionel Messi can't leave Barcelona like this. But he is.

Lionel Messi’s exit seems irreversible. Bartomeu will do everything he can (which is very little at this stage of the game) to stop him going. But everything points to an agreement between the two parties (nobody wants a legal battle which would be excruciating), for a transfer, far below the 700 million euro cost.

It’s hard for Cules to take the idea of the best player in their history leaving by the back door, but it’s something they are used to by now. Luis Suarez, Maradona, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho.

Everyone thought it would be different for Leo, after two decades at the club and 16 in the first team. But unfortunately, that’s now how it is. Unless Bartomeu pulls off a miracle in the coming hours.

A sad and cold burofax has ended the extraordinary trajectory of the Argentine with Barcelona, forcing a terribly hard goodbye.

Barcelonismo cannot understand how Messi could go like this, without a goodbye. And less so how his last image was that 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich. But the Argentine isn’t listening to anyone. He’s going. And now only the price needs to be agreed.

Messi should assume that it won’t be at zero cost. Barca have to take something to get a new ‘crack’ for their project. The player who signs won’t be like Messi though. Because Messi is unique and cannot be repeated. But they have to look towards the future. Barcelona have 120 years of history and forever to go. It’s bigger than everyone, bigger than Bartomeu and also bigger than Messi. Although life without the best footballer of all time will be hard.