NEWSLETTER
Things with Lionel Messi and PSG continue to deteriorate. This weekend home supporters booed Messi for a second time as his name was announced in the starting lineup. Now ESPN is reporting the news that Messi is unlikely to extend his deal with the Parisian super club.
PSG would like him to take a 25 percent pay cut to stay in Paris. Messi currently makes €40 million a year. Messi’s agent and father Jorge will meet with PSG later this month to discuss the issue. ESPN reported after the World Cup that Messi was likely to stay in Paris, but that has changed in recent weeks.
Messi is taking the brunt of the blame for PSG’s failures on the field. PSG is likely to win their 9th Ligue 1 title in the past 11 seasons, but with a massive wage bill winning the league is expected. The fans have turned on Lionel Messi booing him multiple times in recent weeks. He was booed prior to a 2-0 loss to Rennes this past weekend.
PSG has never won the Champions League, a black cloud that will hang over their head for another year. The Parisian club finished second in their group and was dumped out of the competition in the Round of 16 by Bayern Munich.
PSG officials have their doubts the 35-year-old can score goals in the Champions League when they need him to. PSG failed to score in either match against Bayern Munich in the knockout stage.
If Messi Leaves PSG, Where Does He Go Next?
If Lionel Messi does leave PSG he will of course have options, but it’s fair to wonder what will appeal to him. A reunion with Barcelona is desirable, but the Catalan giants may not be able to afford him because of the wage mess they’ve been dealing with now for a couple of years.
Major League Soccer has long been a rumored destination for Messi and remains a possibility. David Beckham’s Inter Miami is the favorite to land him if he were to decide to come to the United States. MLS has had high-profile players like Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic before. However, Lionel Messi would be the biggest acquisition in league history and raise the profile of the league.
The dark horse in the race to sign Messi is Saudi club Al Ittihad. The Saudi clubs have a boatload of money and could rekindle the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry. Cristiano Ronaldo made a high-profile move to Saudi club Al Nassr this Winter.
