Lionel Messi has made the right decision by formally deciding to leave Barcelona this summer and the club should let him walk away with the grace befitting his status as their greatest ever player.

After weeks of speculation which reached fever pitch after Barcelona"s humiliating Champions League defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich, Messi formally told the club on Tuesday that he intends to leave this summer.

Messi is said to have informed officials at the Nou Camp of his decision by fax, activating a clause in his contract which allows him to unilaterally walk away at the end of each season.