Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has described Lionel Messi's departure from the club as one of his biggest mistakes, Messi left Barcelona in the summer of 2021 after the club failed to register a new contract for the Argentine star, ending an association that had delivered countless trophies and unforgettable moments. Reflecting on the situation in an interview with SPORT, Bartomeu said: "Messi's departure seemed like a historic mistake to me.