Messi hosts Barcelona 'farewell dinner' for friends including Aguero and Pique

Lionel Messi hosted a farewell dinner on Saturday night as he prepares to leave Barcelona in the coming days.

Close friends and family were invited to the meal at Messi's house, as he says his goodbyes following the announcement earlier this week that he would not be signing a new contract at the Nou Camp.

Sergio Aguero was among those to attend, and posted a picture of the pair on Instagram.

He wrote: 'All the best in whatever comes my friend. And always with that smile. I love you.'

Aguero will be particularly disappointed to see his friend and international teammate Messi leave Barcelona, having only joined the club earlier this summer and so he will not get the chance to play alongside him for the Catalan side.

Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba have won everything with Messi at club level, and were some of the players at Messi's house on Saturday night along with their partners.

An Argentine streamer called Coscu, was also there and he posted a picture with the caption, 'I met the best person in the world.'

Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi was set to re-sign a new contract with Barcelona after initial talks between player and club proved to be positive.

The 34-year-old was willing to accept a 50 per cent pay cut from his previous deal - which was worth more than £425million over four years - to adhere to La Liga's financial fair play rules and ease Barcelona's dire financial situation.

However, with Messi expecting the deal to be concluded, it came as a shock club president Joan Laporta admitted the club was not in a position to register him due to the salary limit imposed by the league.

In a bombshell statement on Thursday, Barcelona said: 'Despite having reached an agreement between FC Barcelona and Leo Messi and with the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, it cannot be formalized due to economic and structural obstacles (Spanish LaLiga regulations).

'Given this situation, Lionel Messi will not continue linked to FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of both the player and the Club cannot finally be fulfilled.

'Barca would like to thank with all its heart the player's contribution to the enhancement of the institution and wishes him the best in his personal and professional life.'

Messi looks set to make the move to PSG, joining up with former Barcelona teammate Neymar as Mauricio Pochettino's side look to finally win the Champions League trophy that has so far evaded them.