The Argentine star’s contract comes to an end in June. His departure would now be “much more likely, but not certain”.
By JLB with AFP
© JOSE BRETON / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP
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EIs this the end of the Parisian idyll of the new world champion? The departure of Lionel Messi from Paris Saint-Germain, whose contract comes to an end in June, is now “much more likely, but not certain”, we learned 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 of his triumphant World Cup Messi seemed rather to be moving towards an extension.
A world champion in small form
But, since his world title, won in the final against Kylian Mbappé’s France (3-3, 4 tab to 2), the Argentine striker is less brilliant with PSG. Like other teammates, he thus missed his 8e Champions League final against Bayern Munich (PSG was eliminated 1-0/2-0).
In 67 games in the Parisian jersey, the “Pulga” scored 29 goals and offered 32 assists. After a mixed first season, he had had an excellent start to the 2022-2023 fiscal year until the World Cup in Qatar.
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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.