The ongoing speculations about the prospects of Lionel Messi leaving FC Barcelona, which were apparently fanned by the team's crushing defeat in a Champions League match against Bayern Munich this month, have recently reached a whole new level on social media amid the news that the Argentinian football ace does indeed want to part ways with the club.
According to Reuters, a source in the club has confirmed that Messi informed Barca about his desire to leave by sending a burofax, "a service used in Spain to urgently dispatch a document that requires proof to third parties".
Coining hashtag #FreeMessi, many Twitter users went on to call for Messi's release from the team, with numerous memes emerging in the process.
Some also appeared to make not-so-subtle suggestions about what teams might try and sign up Lionel.
Previously, media reports suggested that FC Barcelona may make Messi's potential transfer rather problematic, thanks to his €700 million release clause.
Earlier, famous Brazilian ex-footballer Ronaldo argued that Messi leaving Barca seemed “very unlikely”, especially amid the current "financial crisis in Europe".