Lionel Messi has been linked to a Barcelona return, as he is in his PSG contract's final year. While the Blaugrana is looking for solutions to make the Argentine’s return possible, reports indicate that Messi has decided against extending his Paris stay.
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has had an average career with French champion Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Since moving to the French capital from Spanish giants Barcelona in 2021, he has struggled to make the same dominant impact as he did with the Catalans for over 20 years. Considering his success, it has been limited to a couple of domestic titles, while he still needs to turn the club’s fortunes around in terms of European triumph.
As Messi is into the final year of his contract with PSG, it was reported earlier this season that he had a verbal agreement for an extension. However, at the same time, he has constantly been linked to a return to Barca, despite the club’s financial difficulties making it hard for him to return.
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While Messi has the option to trigger a one-year extension with the Parisians, a report from L’Equipe suggests that the Argentinian has decided against it and will be moving on. Things look dicey about his future stay at Parc des Princes, especially after this weekend when the PSG fans booed him during the side’s 0-1 defeat to Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon).
While the French publication says that Messi and PSG are headed towards a ‘divorce’, it will be interesting to see where the future lies for the Argentine. While he is willing to take a pay cut for his Blaugrana return, Barcelona has to reduce its wage bill significantly. Besides the Catalans, he has also been linked to Major League Soccer (MLS), where Inter Miami has been tipped as his preferred destination.