According to coach Christophe Galtier, Lionel Messi is set to depart from Paris Saint-Germain after a two-year stint with the team. Galtier announced on Thursday that Messi's final game at Parc des Princes would be against Clermont on Saturday. The soccer star's contract, which came with a PGS salary worth £25m per year, is set to expire at the end of June.
Galtier expressed his privilege of coaching the greatest soccer player ever. He added that the upcoming match at Parc des Princes would be his last and hoped the audience would give him the most heartfelt farewell.
In August 2021, PSG enlisted Messi with the aspiration of ultimately clinching the Champions League, but the team is yet to achieve this goal.
PSG secured their 11th French league title this year, but once again, they failed to progress beyond the round of 16 in Europe's premier tournament.
Messi's experience in France has been a mix of positive and negative. Although he has impressive statistics, many PSG supporters believe he represents the team's flaws, as evidenced by the recent jeers and boos directed at him.
Despite initial difficulties adapting to the French league, with only six league goals scored in his first 26 games, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi has shown improvement this season by establishing an effective partnership with forward Kylian Mbappe.
At 35, Messi scored 16 goals and provided 16 assists in 31 league matches. He scored 21 goals and made 20 assists for PSG across all competitions.
Galtier stated he had been a crucial team member this year, consistently present and dedicated during training sessions. He believes that any negative remarks or disapprovals are unfounded.
Although Galtier has endorsed him, PSG's view of Messi has not consistently been favorable. At the beginning of this season, the club had to suspend the World Cup champion for going to Saudi Arabia without the club's consent. Hence a contract worth £25m per year as PSG's salary has been discontinued.
Messi and Saudi Arabia have a commercial agreement to endorse tourism in the Middle Eastern nation. Additionally, rumors suggest that he may make a profitable transfer to the country following the conclusion of the current season.
There has been speculation about Messi's potential return to Barcelona, where he spent most of his career, or his move to the United States to play in MLS. Messi maintains his confidence in his ability to compete at the top tier in Europe, and Barcelona's interest in rehiring him this season is no secret. His ability earned him a PSG salary worth so much, and he's confident to still stay at the top tier in Europe.
Whether they can financially accommodate a new contract for him remains uncertain. However, it is more probable that he will continue playing in Europe rather than joining Inter Miami, any other MLS team, or Saudi Arabia, given the current stage in his career.
At the tender age of 13, Messi joined Barcelona and left the club with an impressive record of 35 titles under his belt. He played a crucial role in the club's four Champions League victories, ten Spanish League triumphs, seven Copa del Rey wins, and eight Spanish Super Cup victories.