Argentina great Mario Kempes has urged Lionel Messi to stay at Paris Saint-Germain. This comes as speculation about a return to Barcelona continues.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is nearing the end of his contract at Parc des Princes, with his departure expected to happen this summer if new contract terms are not reached. PSG is still interested in extending Messi’s contract, and 1978 World Cup champion Kempes, who saw Messi replicate those efforts when winning a global title in Qatar 2022, thinks staying in France would better prepare the all-time great for another World Cup attempt in 2026.
What did Mario Kempes advise about Lionel Messi?
Mario Kempes spoke with TyC Sports about why Messi needs to stay at PSG, for competing for another World Cup title, “If he wants to play in the next World Cup, he will stay very well in France. For the Champions League, it is costing him a bit. At PSG, in three years, he will be perfect. We will also see him in the qualifiers. Little by little, we will see Messi’s physical rhythm.”
He explained that Messi has what it takes to win another title, “There is one thing in which Messi beats everyone: he runs when he has to run. It’s not that he runs to vice. No. If he continues with this winning mentality, it will be like that. He will not arrive like now in 2022, but with his left foot he has one hand and can put it anywhere.”
Why is Messi close to an exit from PSG?
It is said that Messi is closer to leaving PSG rather than continuing. The main reasons are the Champions League elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich, rumors of dressing room problems, and PSG facing possible UEFA sanctions for breaching their Financial Fair Play rules. PSG is also going to have to reduce its wage bill and could see some key players leave.
While Messi is being urged to accept a new contract in Paris, questions remain about how dedicated he is to the PSG project. With that in mind, there have been rumors that he could return to Camp Nou if Barcelona can find the necessary finances, or take on a fresh task in MLS or the Middle East.
Messi, who had previously hinted that he could withdraw from international football after the 2022 World Cup, has now stated that he will continue to play for Argentina until the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly organized by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
