Lionel Messi is reportedly now seriously considering leaving from French club Paris Saint Germain. He is currently contemplating a move back to his longtime club Barcelona.
Lionel Messi is yet to sign a contract extension with his current club Paris Saint Germain. His previous contract expires this summer. Messi and his camp did have a verbal agreement to continue in Paris. But the Argentine had a change of heart after winning the World Cup last year.
However, according to French media outlet L’Equipe, Messi, and PSG are ‘close to divorce’ with the legend set to leave when the season concludes after recent talks saw both sides move further apart.
Messi’s family wishes to go back to Barcelona, where they lived throughout the Argentine’s entire career before relocating to Paris in 2021. The player himself is now considering it after Barcelona contacted him.
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Due to Financial Fair Play issues, PSG requires Messi to accept a 25% salary cut on his extremely lucrative £25.6 million-a-year deal. Both Messi and his agent and father Jorge Messi have rejected this offer.
Messi is also said to want assurances on the manager and players sought by the club this summer, with PSG unable to placate his reservations.
Why is Lionel Messi likely to leave PSG?
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. The fact that the PSG fans are actively booing him for their club’s problems could also be a deciding factor.
Speculation about his future has prompted club followers to vent their rage, with home fans whistling him after the club’s loss at home against Lyon.
This is not the first time the PSG fans have booed the 35-year-old World Cup winner. PSG ultras and fans booed the Argentine World Cup winner at their home stadium Parc des Princes after they were knocked out by Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 last year.
This season he again experienced that when they faced Stade Rennes before the international break. This came after another UEFA Champions League Round of 16 loss against Bayern Munich. The fans are upset with the Argentine superstar as he has failed to make an impact in the Champions League or any big games since arriving in 2021.
What does Barcelona have to do with all this?
Barcelona vice president Rafa Yuste has already clarified that the club is working to bring the Argentine back to the Spotify Camp Nou for another stint.
Manager and ex-teammate Xavi also spoke about wanting Messi back, “I’d love for Leo Messi to return. It’s a topic we’re working on, but it doesn’t just depend on me.” Many Barcelona players like Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets, and Marc Andre Ter Stegan have also expressed their wish to see the Argentine back.
Barca president, Joan Laporta, is reportedly preparing to offer Messi a very low salary of 7 to 8 million euros to properly register him, and the club may organize a tribute match in which Messi would receive all of the earnings. This could amount to €100 million. They could also give him all of his merchandise earnings which could be around €200 million.
