Luis Suarez and Carles Puyol react to news that Lionel Messi wants to leave Barcelona

Former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol and current forward Luis Suarez have reacted on social media to the sensational breaking news that Lionel Messi wants to leave the club.

Reports from both Argentina and Spain claimed that the talismanic figure had sent a burofax to Barcelona asking to quit immediately.

And Associated Press then said the club had confirmed to them that this was indeed the case.

Puyol, who played with Messi during the early stages of his career, took to Twitter to post a message in Spanish which translated as: "Respect and admiration, Leo. You have my full support, my friend."

Respeto y admiración, Leo. Todo mi apoyo, amigo.

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— Carles Puyol (@Carles5puyol) August 25, 2020

Suarez, who is also rumoured to be leaving this summer, followed this up by simply posting two applause emojis.

Speculation over Messi's future has been rife ever since the Catalan giant's humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals earlier this month.

He has often cut a frustrated figure this season, and is believed to have fallen out with a number of figures behind the scenes at the club, including former director Eric Abidal.

It is not yet clear whether Messi will be able to leave on a free, however.

He has a clause in his contract which states he can leave at the end of any season if he so wishes, but Barcelona are claiming this expired in June of this year.

A legal battle could be set to follow, but all eyes are expected to turn on where Messi could go next if he does indeed make a spectacular exit from Barcelona.

Manchester City and Manchester United are two of the early favourites, and Premier League fans would no doubt be frothing at the mouth at the prospect of seeing the six-time Ballon d'Or winner gracing these shores.

Some, however, believe he may prefer a move back to his native Argentina, while Inter Milan are another elite club thought to be closely monitoring his situation.