Lionel Messi’s future at Barcelona ‘difficult’, says father and agent

Lionel Messi has asked to leave Barcelona (Nick Potts/PA)

Lionel Messi’s father has claimed it will be “difficult” for the forward to remain with Barcelona.

Messi informed the club last month that he wished to leave in the wake of their 8-2 Champions League thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich, claiming a clause in his contract would allow him to walk away for free.