Lionel Messi will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this season, with the Argentine playing his last game against Clermont Foot on Saturday.
PSG manager Christophe Galtier confirmed at a press conference on Thursday afternoon that the World Cup winner will leave, with Inter Miami one of many potential destinations.
“Clermont Foot will be Messi’s last game at PSG,” Galtier said. “I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football. It will be Leo’s last game at Parc dels Princes.’
Messi joined PSG after a financial tug-of-war with Barcelona in 2021 and has won a pair of Ligue 1 titles, although the Parisians have come no closer to winning the La Liga crown. Champions they want so much.
The 35-year-old hinted that leaving Barcelona allowed him to mature as a player and some suggest that stepping out of his comfort zone allowed him to develop the leadership qualities he showed in winning the World Cup in Qatar in December.
PSG have confirmed that Lionel Messi will leave the club at the end of the 2022-23 season
Manager Christophe Galtier revealed that Messi will play his last game for PSG on Saturday night
The French media reported this morning that Messi could make a sensational return to the Camp Nou, but that Barcelona would have difficulties to bet financially.
An alternative suggested by L’Equipe, however, is that Messi could join Inter Miami and be loaned to the Catalan club.
Inter Miami, managed by Phil Neville, are said to be offering Messi a lucrative package, while there is still interest from Asian clubs.
“I hope he will be welcomed in the best way,” added Galtier before Messi’s last game. PSG has already won Ligue 1.
There have also been suggestions that the World Cup winner could be on the verge of signing a lucrative deal with Saudi Al-Hilal.
Rumors last month claimed that Messi had been offered a contract worth £522m from Al-Hilal, despite the concerns of his wife Antonela Roccuzzo.
Messi’s father Jorge was quick to shut down reports that a decision had been made on his son’s club for next season.
Taking to social media, Messi’s father said: “There is absolutely nothing with any club for next year. The decision will never be made before Lionel finishes the league with PSG.
“Once the season is over, it will be time to analyze and see what is there, and then make a decision.
The Argentine has recently been linked with moves to Spain, America and Saudi Arabia
Inter Miami and their coach Phil Neville have been clear that they want Messi to join the MLS
‘There are always rumors and many use Lionel’s name to gain notoriety, but the truth is only one and we can assure you that there is nothing wrong with anyone.
‘Neither verbal, nor signed, nor agreed, and there won’t be until the end of the season’.
Despite his impressive campaign in France – where he scored 16 goals and registered 16 assists in the league – there are clearly issues with Messi and the PSG hierarchy.
Last month, the World Cup winner was at the center of controversy as he missed a training session and instead traveled to Saudi Arabia to promote the country’s tourism industry.
Messi, who received a two-week suspension, apologized and posted a message on social media saying he was on his way to Riyadh when the players said their day off had been cancelled.
“I thought we would have a day off after the game like always,” Messi began in the 39-second clip shared on his Instagram story.
“I had this trip organized and I couldn’t cancel it. I had already canceled it before. I apologize to my teammates and I’m waiting for what the club wants to do with me.”
Lionel Messi released a video apologizing for his unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia in May
The striker flew to the Middle East with his family when he was supposed to be in PSG training
A few days after the incident, PSG fans rallied outside the club’s headquarters to chant for the resignation of PSG’s board of directors, while also calling for Messi to leave the club, with the Argentine also received taunts from fans in recent games.
Fans were thought to have arrived at the venue to protest Messi’s suspension but, according to The Sun, one chant heard was: ‘Messi, son of ab****’.
The 35-year-old has spent two seasons in Paris since leaving Barcelona in dramatic fashion, winning back-to-back league titles with the club.
In total, the forward has registered 32 goals and 35 assists in 74 appearances for the French giants.
