Barcelona are working to convince Lionel Messi to stay at the club following the Argentina superstar's bombshell request to leave.

The 33-year-old rocked the Catalan giants on Tuesday night, when it is understood he asked for his contract, which has a year still to run, to be terminated under an end-of-season release clause.

The news sparked anger in the city he has made his home since his teenage years and led to frenzied speculation about potential destinations.

The six-times Ballon d'Or winner has been at the Nou Camp since joining the club's famed La Masia academy, making his competitive debut as a 17-year-old substitute in a 1-0 LaLiga win at Espanyol in October 2004.

He has since scored a staggering 634 goals and won 33 major trophies, including 10 league titles and four Champions League successes.

Since the news broke, Messi, whose contract is said to contain a 700million euros release clause, has been linked with a series of potential suitors, with Manchester City – managed by former boss Pep Guardiola – and Champions League runners-up Paris St Germain reportedly leading the chase.