Official: Lionel Messi left PSG, ending the relationship without many good memories

Paris Saint Germain (PSG) coach Chris tophe Galtier confirmed superstar Lionel Messi at the end of this season when both sides’ contracts expire.

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Speaking at a press conference, the PSG coach said: “I have the honor of coaching the best player in the history of football. The match against Clermont will be Messi’s last appearance in the Park of the Princes.

I hope that he will receive the warmest welcome. In this season, Messi is a very important part of the team.”

Messi’s contract with PSG will expire on June 30, 2023, after two seasons playing football in France.

The 36-year-old superstar had the option to extend for another year, but he did not apply, to leave this summer. Previously, Messi and PSG could not find a common voice when negotiating a contract extension.

Soccer Football – Ligue 1 – Paris St Germain Training – Ooredoo Training Centre, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France – June 1, 2023 Paris St Germain’s Lionel Messi during training REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

Messi has scored 16 goals and assisted 16 times in 31 Ligue 1 games this season. In Europe’s top five leagues, no player has scored or assisted more than 15 times as he has. The Argentine captain also scored eight goals in seven Champions League matches, although PSG stopped in the eighth round. Messi’s best achievement this season was not in a PSG shirt, but when he won the World Cup with Argentina for the first time in his career.

Messi joined PSG in the summer of 2021, after his contract with Barca expired. He scored 32 goals in 74 matches for PSG, helping the team win Ligue 1 for two consecutive seasons. Recently, a part of the Paris audience whistled and booed every time Messi played. They want the Qatar owners to fire president Nasser Al Khelaifi, coach Galtier, and let Messi or Neymar go.

Messi has not yet determined a new destination in his career. According to Athletic, there are three teams targeting him: Barca, Inter Miami (USA) and a Saudi Arabian club. In particular, only the Saudi side made an official offer for Messi, with a contract worth $ 400 million per year. Messi wants to return to Barca but the financial situation of the team is not guaranteed to do so.