the journey of Leo Messi in Paris will come to an end this Saturday, in a match against Clermont without significance in the standings and which will mean the last game for Rosario with the PSG shirt. His coach, Christophe Galtier, confirmed at a press conference what was an open secret: Messi will not continue next season at the club after both parties have not reached an agreement for his renewal.
“I have had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football. This Saturday will be his last game at the Parc des Princes, and I hope he receives the warmest of welcomes. This year he has been an important part of the team, he has always been available. I don’t think any of the comments or criticisms are justified. When you have a season with the World Cup on the horizon and you end up with stats of 21 goals and 20 assists… He’s always been there for the team. It has been a great privilege to be with him throughout the season,” said Galtier, whose future is up in the air.
The commotion caused by the French coach’s statements forced PSG hours later to come out and try to qualify what Galtier said. In statements made to AFP, the Parisian club pointed out that Galtier had “expressed himself badly. The match against Clermont will be the Messi’s last in the Parque de los Príncipes with PSG this season”. A clarification that, however, does not seem to open the doors to the continuity of the Argentine.
Messi landed in Paris in August 2021 with the aim of giving PSG its first Champions League. After a difficult first season, in which he did not finish adapting, his numbers in his second year were remarkable, although insufficient to bring the Parisians closer to the European Cup. With 21 goals and 20 assists in 41 games, Messi leaves PSG with three titles under his belt, two in Ligue 1, the last one won last Saturday in Strasbourg, and a Super Cup in August 2022 against Nantes..
Although in November, in the middle of the World Cup, Messi and PSG reached an agreement in principle, it still needed to be shaped and the negotiations were postponed. In March, his departure was already a reality and the club gave up trying to renew him. Several weeks ago, the Argentine was sanctioned after traveling to Saudi Arabia without permission, an urgency that he was lifted after he apologized on social media. This Saturday, with a full Parque de los Príncipes, with the return of the ultras to the stadium, with a title that will not be held due to Sergio Rico’s serious state of health, Messi will wear shorts for the last time with PSG.