Messi likely to leave PSG after season conclusion

According to a report on Thursday, Lionel Messi will probably leave Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the end of the current campaign since the Ligue 1 team has no intention of renewing his contract. After leaving Barcelona due to financial issues in the summer of 2021, Messi signed a two-year contract with PSG. The 35-year-old has made 71 appearances for the French team, contributing to the 2022 championship with 34 assists and 31 goals.

During the World Cup in Qatar, Messi’s agents were in discussions about extending his contract, but the situation has abruptly changed. PSG views Messi’s acquisition as a success on and off the pitch, but some supporters turned against the club after Bayern Munich eliminated them from the Champions League.

Messi was also punished by PSG earlier this week for travelling to Saudi Arabia on a personal promotional trip without authorization. The Argentina international is said to have asked PSG for permission to visit the country, which he did on Sunday night after postponing a business trip twice due to team defeats. After a day of talks with the club’s hierarchy, Messi was suspended for two games and fined two weeks’ pay for failing to obtain that permission.

Messi will now miss the Ligue 1 matches against Troyes and Ajaccio, but he might return for the May 21 meeting against Auxerre. Since the World Cup, the forward and the team have not performed as well as expected, and his departure in the summer will fit with the club’s new strategy of focusing on young French players rather than signing superstar talents.