Lionel Messi’s tenure at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is set to come to an end as the club has decided not to offer him a new contract. The Argentine forward joined PSG in the summer of 2021 on a two-year deal after parting ways with Barcelona due to their financial difficulties. During his time with the French club, Messi has made 71 appearances, scoring 31 goals, providing 34 assists, and clinching the league title in 2022.
In an unexpected turn of events, PSG is also reportedly open to considering offers for Neymar this summer. The club has expressed its disapproval of the recent actions by some supporters who gathered outside Neymar’s residence, chanting for his departure. PSG issued a statement condemning these actions and standing in full support of their players, staff, and those affected by such behavior.
As for Messi’s future, discussions regarding a contract renewal were underway between his representatives and PSG. Previously, things seemed positive, especially during the World Cup held in Qatar. However, circumstances have now shifted. While PSG views Messi’s signing as a success on and off the pitch, certain sections of the fanbase turned against him following the team’s elimination from the Champions League by Bayern Munich.
Messi faced additional complications when he was suspended by PSG for embarking on a personal promotional trip to Saudi Arabia without obtaining permission. Despite requesting authorization from the club, he traveled to the country on Sunday night, having postponed a scheduled commercial trip twice due to the team’s defeats. Consequently, PSG suspended Messi for two games, along with a two-week wage fine, following discussions among the club’s higher-ups.
This suspension means that Messi will miss the upcoming Ligue 1 matches against Troyes and Ajaccio, but he could potentially make his return for the match against Auxerre on May 21. However, both Messi and the team have not performed as expected since the World Cup, aligning with PSG’s new strategy of shifting focus towards young French players rather than acquiring superstar talents.
Despite his impending departure from PSG, Messi firmly believes he can continue playing at the highest level in European football. Barcelona has openly expressed its desire to re-sign the Argentine this summer. The feasibility of such an agreement remains to be seen, as Barcelona must assess their financial capabilities to offer Messi a new contract. At this stage of his career, it is more likely that Messi will stay in Europe rather than consider moves to Inter Miami or any other MLS club, as well as Saudi Arabia.
Notably, Messi was recently spotted in Riyadh and even promoted his presence in the country through his social media channels. It is worth mentioning that Messi already serves as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia. Al Hilal, a Saudi Arabian club, is reportedly interested in signing Messi and is prepared to offer an astronomical £400 million for just one season. Their intention is to leverage Messi’s star power to promote a league that already boasts the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Barcelona is actively intensifying its efforts to bring Messi back to the Nou Camp. The club is in discussions with LaLiga to explore avenues for increased flexibility in their Financial Fair Play ratio. These negotiations revolve around the spending limits for the upcoming season, as Barcelona aims to secure Messi’s return for what is likely to be his final year in European football.
However, the path to a reunion won’t be easy, considering Barcelona’s previous breach of financial limits during the 2021-22 season, resulting in charges from LaLiga. Although the fine for Andreas Christensen’s registration has been successfully appealed, Barcelona still finds itself operating at the edge of their spending capacity. Consequently, player sales may be necessary to accommodate Messi’s potential return.
Barcelona manager Xavi remains cautious when discussing the likelihood of Messi’s return, emphasizing that it is too early to speculate. For now, the focus remains on the team’s pursuit of winning the league title, which holds immense importance for the club, the staff, and the players as it promises stability. Any discussions regarding new player arrivals will occur once LaLiga has been secured, according to Xavi’s recent statements to the press.
