Joan Laporta expected to lift lid on Lionel Messi’s departure from Barcelona

Lionel Messi is to leave Barcelona after more than two decades (Mike Egerton/PA)

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is expected to lift the lid on Lionel Messi’s shock departure at a press conference on Friday.

The Catalan giants revealed on Thursday night that the out-of-contract 34-year-old would end his stay at the Nou Camp after more than two decades after the two parties had agreed an extension, but were unable to formalise it because of LaLiga’s financial rules.