Lionel Messi has confirmed that he will leave PSG when his contract expires this summer, despite having previously reached an ‘agreement in principle’ to stay for another year. His departure from PSG comes after he was given a two-week ban for travelling to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission.
Lionel Messi will leave PSG when his contract expires this summer, it has been confirmed, despite having previously reached an ‘agreement in principle’ to stay with the Ligue 1 giants for another year.
Messi is said to be concerned that PSG will reduce their budget next season to meet financial fair play regulations, which could lead to a reduction in the quality of their squad. The 36-year-old also lacks faith in PSG’s ability to compete for top honors, and the club wants to prioritize developing young talent.
Messi, who won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, is set to become a free agent on July 1, having spent the last two seasons with PSG. He has been heavily linked with a return to Barcelona, the club he left due to their financial struggles. It remains to be seen where Messi will end up next, but his departure from PSG marks the end of a brief but eventful chapter in the Argentine’s illustrious career.
Messi has scored 31 goals for PSG
A Barcelona homecoming on the cards?
A potential return to Barcelona for Messi has been discussed, with Barca boss Xavi confirming that the club has held talks with LaLiga about the possibility. However, the Catalan giants would need to free up significant funds to afford Messi’s reported salary of over €700,000 a week at PSG.
In addition to Barcelona, Inter Miami, the MLS team partially owned by David Beckham, and Saudi Arabia have also been mentioned as possible destinations for the Argentine superstar. It remains to be seen where Messi will end up next, but his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time ensures that his next move will attract significant attention.