2023-05-03 07:27:00
The Argentinian striker traveled to Saudi Arabia without his club’s permission. He was suspended for two weeks and should not be extended.
By Adrian Mathieu
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Dn a 2022-2023 season which will have been difficult until the end for Paris Saint-Germain, the episode of Lionel Messi in Saudi Arabia will have been one of the most stormy. While the capital club has not yet mathematically secured the Ligue 1 title and the last outing ended in a worrying defeat against Lorient (1-3), the Argentine world champion traveled to the other side of the planet without the permission of PSG.
Even if the Messi clan claimed to have asked the Parisian leaders to be able to go to the Gulf country, the former Barça striker did not wait for the response from his superiors to fly to Riyadh.
A lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia
Become ambassador of the tourist office of Saudi Arabia for a contract estimated at 30 million euros, Lionel Messi had postponed several times his visit to the Gulf due to a busy schedule. With a freewheeling end to the season and a feeling of letting go at Camp des Loges, the Argentinian saw fit to travel this Monday without waiting for the approval of his club.
READ ALSOAt PSG, business never stopsFaced with a fait accompli, Paris Saint-Germain ended up reacting 24 hours later by deciding to suspend their player for two weeks. Nasser al-Khelaïfi banged his fist on the table, and Messi’s future in the capital is now in dotted lines.
Messi at PSG is:
– Disastrous 1st season
– Penalty missed against Real in LDC
– Decisive 0 times in UCL finals
– A deplorable attitude
– Quit training
– Leave in ���� instead of training without telling the club…What a desappointment… pic.twitter.com/Kgzms338Em
— Sinbad �� (@SinbadBoi_) May 2, 2023
The love is supposed to last three years, but between Paris Saint-Germain and the seven-time Ballon d’Or the idyll only lasted two seasons. Launched as a rock star in the summer of 2021, Messi arrived at the Parc des Princes with the promise of forming an elite trio with Neymar and Mbappé, but above all of finally winning the Champions League which tirelessly eludes PSG. After a mediocre first season far from his Catalan standards, the 35-year-old striker presented himself with a much more conquering state of mind last summer. With the desire to be at his best for the World Cup in Qatar with Argentina, Messi chained quality services until going to recover the supreme trophy with his selection this winter.
“We want players who love the club”
But since this consecration, Messi is only a shadow of himself. Unable to make a difference in the Champions League against Bayern Munich in 8e final, the Pulga drags its spleen at the end of the freewheeling season for the Parisians, between a weakened Christophe Galtier, an amorphous public and more involved players. Lionel Messi no doubt thought that the context was ideal for a short getaway, but PSG decided to tighten the screw and remind him of his duties. “We no longer want flashy, bling-bling, it’s the end of glitter. We want players who love the club, who love to fight, who love to win,” said Nasser al-Khelaïfi in substance last summer in The Parisian.
This sanction comes as the Argentinian is at the end of his contract with the capital club. In recent months, the option of extending it despite his advanced age has been the priority of Parisian leaders, as Messi represents a marketing issue that goes beyond sporting considerations. “I would like to keep him in this project, I can’t hide it. We are discussing at the moment to achieve this goal, and continue to have it with us, ”said Luis Campos in particular last February. But with this last-minute hiccup and a player without any chemistry with PSG, the end of the adventure seems close between the two parties.
Even with the supporters, the flame was quickly extinguished. The Parc des Princes was quickly disillusioned with the performance below expectations of its new star. And the first whistles were quick to arrive, after the elimination in the round of 16 of the Champions League last year against Real Madrid. The Collectif Ultras Paris notably criticized Messi for never coming to greet them after each meeting. The link was quickly broken.
Soon a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo?
In the end, this divorce could suit everyone. With Messi in addition to Neymar and Mbappé, Paris Saint-Germain were often unbalanced, and will therefore be able to recruit a new attacker who is quicker to make defensive returns. In the other direction, Messi after having won everything will be able to turn to a less trying challenge. And since we are talking about Saudi Arabia, one of the clubs in the kingdom would be very interested in the idea of recovering it. Al-Hilal would like to attract him to recreate the rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese playing at Al-Nassr.
READ ALSOFive Ligue 1 players who would make PSG happyDavid Beckham’s Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and FC Barcelona for a resounding return are among other candidates interested in snapping him up this summer. But whatever happens, the adventure between Paris Saint-Germain and Lionel Messi will not leave an unforgettable memory. There will have been few outstanding moments, apart from the free kick at the last minute which gave the victory against Lille last February (4-3). This will not change his undeniable notoriety as a legend of this sport, but the Parisian supporters will keep a very bitter memory of this experience.
#divorce #fiasco