Lionel Messi’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is set to expire in June, and despite agreeing in principle back in November 2022 to continue with the team, he will not be playing for PSG next season. The relationship between Messi and the club has been tumultuous, and the latest chapter has resulted in his suspension for two weeks after missing Monday's training session without permission. This decision was made by the PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who was on a business trip in the U.S. when he learned of Messi's absence.
This is the first time a PSG player has been suspended in this manner and for this long since the Qatari owners took over the club in 2011. The suspension came after PSG's 3-1 loss to Lorient, which was one of their worst performances of the season. Achraf Hakimi was sent off for two bookable offenses, and things quickly fell apart even after Kylian Mbappe equalized. The World Cup winner's liberties were seen as a step too far, which is why the club took the stance of setting an example.
Messi's suspension is the final straw in a difficult relationship with PSG. Even before this latest incident, his future with the team was not clear. Meetings between Jorge Messi (Lionel Messi's dad) and the club in February and March led to nothing, and it felt as though neither party really wanted to continue together. PSG even reportedly asked their star to take a pay cut, knowing it was something he would never be likely to accept.
Moreover, people at the club were no longer convinced that there were legitimate on-field reasons to keep him. Messi shone in Ligue 1, where he is still too good in most games against most opponents, but he notably failed in the Champions League, with two poor performances against Bayern Munich in which he showed his limitations. Messi was ostensibly recruited to help the team win the Champions League, but with him, they lost twice in the round of 16.
Messi's choice to reprimand his club and satisfy his commitments in Saudi Arabia has shown to be the start of the end for the hotshot at PSG.
In the meantime, Messi's team was receiving offers from Inter Miami, Barcelona, and Al Hilal, with the Saudi club being the only one to have made an offer to sign the 35-year-old player (he turns 36 in June) this summer. This offer from Al Hilal is still on the table, and Messi is keeping all his options open.
Messi's family doesn't want to stay in France, and their dream is to go back to Barcelona. However, the team would need to come up with a financial offer that not only suits Messi but is also acceptable to LaLiga and its wage bill regulations. Considering Barça's well-documented financial issues, there is still a long way to go before they can start to really believe in the prodigal son's return.
In conclusion, Messi's departure from PSG was not a surprise, given the difficulties in his relationship with the club. Even before his suspension, his future with PSG was uncertain. While his family's dream is to return to Barcelona, his options are still open, with Al Hilal being a strong contender. Whatever happens, Messi remains one of the greatest players of all time and will continue to be a hot topic of discussion among football fans.
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