There is no season in Paris Saint-Germain without the soap opera. It has already become a tradition dependent on the present and future of its stars, without a sporting message cheering a club where only the Champions League goes.
Where last year all eyes were on Kylian Mbappé, who was eventually persuaded by the owners of the Qatari club to extend his contract, this time the name of the Argentinian Leo Messi, whose contract expires this summer, stands out.
He landed on the banks of the Seine in August 2021 and signed for two seasons with an additional season if both sides agreed.
During the last World Cup, where Rosario was voted the best player for the entire PSG team, Qatar’s version, the player and the club agreed in principle to extend his stay in France.
Only the financial details were missing, which did not seem like an insurmountable mountain for the Argentinian’s performance.
But with the new year, the positions have changed. From both sides. And the team’s elimination in the round of 16 of the Champions League only made matters worse.
Messi no longer seems so keen to continue his adventure in Paris as the demand for a high level is more complex at 36 years old.
The rosary has offers from Inter Miami and the Saudi league on the table, not forgetting that Barcelona’s doors will always be open.
The player bears a scar on the fans of the French capital, who also blamed him for the European elimination in the round of 16 last year.
At the time, the stands at Parque de los Príncipes were more tolerant of the player, despite the team suffering its fourth defeat in LaLiga on Sunday, its first in front of its fans.
His name was whistled a bit when the line-up was announced and also during the match, but nothing to do with last season’s toughness that the player remembered well.
Despite this minor animosity, the player did not join his teammates at the end of the game, who came to greet them after the defeat against Rennes.
On the contrary, almost alone, Messi immediately won the tunnel to the changing rooms, in a very symbolic image that gives the impression that he is not very interested in strengthening the connection with the stands.
Rumors about the Argentinian’s disinterest have multiplied in recent days. Social networks published that the football player left a training session dissatisfied with coach Christophe Galtier.
On the other hand, the discourse has also changed. While the public seems to have lost the illusion of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, the club’s management are less than thrilled when it comes to putting in the necessary financial effort to keep him in their ranks.
PSG are pushing the boundaries of financial fair play and their accounts are under the scrutiny of UEFA, particularly because of Mbappé’s pharaonic deal.
Dropping Messi would give the club some economic room to prepare for next season, which will surely revolve around the French striker.
All this amidst the fog in which a club is left without clear goals after leaving Europe, as seen against Rennes, where the commitment of the players left much to be desired.
Without a clear motivation, the club seems helpless and the future, starting with that of the coach, is very uncertain.
The project requires a new dose of enthusiasm and it doesn’t look like Messi is the right man for it.
Source: La Neta Neta
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
