(Paris) The departure of Lionel Messi from Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract in June is now “much more likely, but not certain”, we learned on Tuesday from a source close to the club.
“No agreement has been signed, the dynamic has completely changed with PSG pushing less to renew”, continues this source. Messi, 36 in June, joined PSG in the summer of 2021.
The attitude of the supporters, some of whom whistled the Argentine star on Sunday evening during the match lost at home against Lyon (1-0), “completely changed the situation”, according to this source, while on the return from his Cup of triumphant world, Messi seemed to be moving towards an extension instead.
But since his world title, won in the final against Kylian Mbappé’s France (3-3, 4 t. a. b. to 2), the Argentine striker is less brilliant with PSG. Like other teammates, he thus missed out on his Champions League round of 16 against Bayern Munich (PSG was eliminated 1-0/2-0).
In 67 games in the Paris jersey, the “Pulga” scored 29 goals and offered 32 assists. After a mixed first season, he had had an excellent start to the 2022/23 season until the World Cup in Qatar.
If he left, Messi could return to FC Barcelona or join the wealthy Saudi championship, where his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo plays, or even the North American MLS where Inter Miami would like to bring him.
