Messi saga at PSG takes another turn
Lionel Messi has had a remarkable career, however, the Argentine icon’s time with Paris Saint-Germain has been anything but iconic.
Joining PSG at the beginning of last season, it appears that Messi is headed toward the Paris exit after this season. ESPN has reported that contract negotiations between PSG and Messi are at a standstill with major doubt of a deal being agreed upon.
Messi has accomplished just about everything a professional soccer player can accomplish. His stunning resume includes 11 league titles, four Champions League titles, four Club World Cup titles, a Copa America triumph and most recently claimed the World Cup title, which had eluded him and cast a dark shadow on him for so long.
Messi’s time at PSG has been marred by European failure as the Parisians were dumped out of the Champions League in the Round of 16 both years since Messi’s arrival. The star-studded attacking trio of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have not shown up when it mattered the most, including on the injury front.
While Messi has provided PSG with some great moments, the PSG support do not feel it is enough. That took another turn when the PSG supporters hurled Messi with whistles late in the club’s 1-0 win against Lyon on April 2.
Despite all the negativity from the PSG fanbase, former French international Emmanuel Petit has come to Messi’s defense.
“When I see the whistles against Messi, it’s an insult to football. If I have any advice for Messi: get out of this club! PSG is not a football club!”
Emmanuel Petit
What is next for Messi?
This very well could be the end of the road for Messi in a PSG jersey. It could also be yet another misconceived report that often stirs the pot for the world’s greatest stars.
Thierry Henry came to the backing of his former Barcelona teammate.
“You can’t whistle one of the best players on the team, who has 13 goals and 13 assists this season,” Henry said. “Personally, I would like to see him finish his career at Barcelona, in Europe.”
Could he really return to Barca? It seems to be made for a storybook ending to his career. The potential move could see Messi reunite with fellow Barca legend Xavi Hernandez, now the club’s manager, along with ex-teammates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto.
A glorious return to Barcelona faces a significant financial barrier, which forced him out of the club back in 2021.
The other option that continuously comes up time after time is a move across the pond to MLS to play for David Beckham-owned and Phil Neville-coached Inter Miami.
The answer will not be imminent, but it will come over the coming months and into the summer.
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