Lionel Messi: Lionel Messi transfer saga continues as a leading French media has now confirmed that Leo Messi and PSG are now closer to a ‘divorce’ than ever. Messi’s father, Jorge Messi told PSG authority that Messi was willing to stay in France for another season during the FIFA World Cup 2022. However, the Argentine has refused to take a pay cut to stay. With all these going on, Leo Messi transfer to Barcelona seems the most possible at this moment. Follow Ligue 1 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
PSG have sat down with Lionel Messi’s representatives on multiple occasion to agree on a new deal. However, they will need him to 25% pay cut on his £25.6 million per year deal to stay on the right side of Financial Fair Play and he has not agreed to it. A leading French media has reported that contract meetings have led the World Cup champion further away from signing a new contract with PSG.
According to reports, Leo Messi’s father Jorge Messi told PSG club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi that the Argentine wants to stay in France for the next season. However, new reports suggest that Messi’s family members who have spent most of his career along with him in Barcelona, want to return to Spain. Hence, the player could decide on a move back to his childhood club.
PSG fans have also started booing the player whenever the team is losing or drawing any match. This could stem from the fact that the Argentine was the captain of the team that defeated France in the World Cup final to lift the trophy. It still doesn’t help in signing the player for another year at PSG and Messi’s old teammate Thierry Henry agrees to that.
Thierry Henry said, “It’s embarrassing to hear whistles from the Parc. You can’t whistle one of the best players on the team, who has 13 goals and 13 assists this season.” He added, “Personally, I would like to see him finish his career at Barcelona, in Europe… For the love of football, he should go back to Barcelona.”
🚨🚨✅| CONFIRMED: Leo Messi is now very unlikely to renew his contract with PSG! They want him to reduce his salary by 25% & he does not want to do it. He is also very upset that he is whistled by the Parisian supporters.@espn [🎖️] pic.twitter.com/yzWEO3Eknc
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) April 4, 2023
PSG manager, Christophe Galtier also said that the fans’ reaction to the Argentine was ‘very harsh’. He also said that the player ‘gives a lot’ considering the 17 goals + 13 assists tally this season throughout all competitions. However, apparently, the president has understood what the fans want from the booings and he could choose to let Leo Messi go this summer.
Reportedly, Messi also wants assurance on the players and manager targeted by PSG and the club has not been able to confirm anything at this point. Additionally, it’s being said that if Messi is to stay at PSG, he will have to agree to the club’s terms and neither of the two parties seems to be budging from their stance. Whereas, Barcelona have reportedly been preparing to launch ‘an offensive’ to bring the superstar home.
