Messi's Future Is In The Stars As PSG Entente Comes To An End

Lionel Messi’s time in Paris is coming to an end. The Argentina captain, who led his country to the World Cup in Qatar last year and put him in good position to win an eighth Ballon d’Or, failed to show up for training at Paris Saint-Germain’s Camp des Loges on Wednesday after The Ligue -1 club banned him for two weeks after he made an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia in his capacity as the country’s tourism ambassador. According to L’Equipe, Messi’s salary will be suspended for the duration of his suspension and any remote chance of the former Barcelona striker extending his contract in the French capital is now gone. Messi signed a two-year deal with an optional third season at the Parc des Princes, but his father, Jorge Messi, reportedly told PSG sporting director Luis Campos a few weeks ago that the option would not be exercised as he lacked direction in the sporting project of the club. Messi has not made any public statement following his suspension and is looking to end his time at the club on a positive note with another Ligue 1 title. According to PSG sources consulted by EL PAÍS, there is little desire at the club for Messi to stay: “We want players who are committed to the club, to the fans and to Paris.”

Every negotiation conducted by Jorge Messi begins with the same question: “What will the team look like next season?” In February, he met with the PSG hierarchy to what appeared to be a straightforward agreement to extend Messi’s stay, after a verbal agreement last year agreement had been reached. However, things quickly went in a different direction. According to both parties, the problem was not a financial one. “Messi and Neymar are paid less than [Kylian] Mbappé, but because they are foreigners, they enjoy better tax benefits,” the same sources say. However, PSG’s immediate future remains unclear. The club haven’t been able to give Messi any guarantees on new players or even who the manager will be next season. Qatari PSG owners don’t like to be waited on and Messi doesn’t like to lose. When Bayern Munich threw PSG out of the Champions League, the Argentine knew he had little left to do in Paris.

Barcelona, who have long wished to bring Messi back to the Camp Nou, have started checking the books to see if a move is viable. However, the club is in dire financial straits and has implemented a comprehensive package of cost-cutting measures. “We have €800m in revenue and €1bn in expenses,” Camp Nou sources say. As of today, Barça LaLiga will present a scenario where the club’s budget for the 2023-24 season will be €120m less than this year. The austerity measures include pay cuts for 200 staff, saving the club €20m. The closure of the team’s official television channel, Barça TV, has already been announced, saving a further €15m. Further cuts in the salary packages for the professional squad are also being considered. Football director Mateu Alemany has already spoken to some experienced players about the topic. “They are asking us for something similar to what we did during Covid [when the players agreed to salary reductions totaling €120 million over three years]’ sources say in the dressing room.

However, it’s all up in the air after Germany announced he will leave the club at the end of the season. Sporting director Jordi Cruyff, son of Barca legend Johan, is unsure if he will stay. What is more than certain is that Barcelona cannot afford to sign players unless they sell first, although the club’s accountants say it is more about hitting the salary cap than transfer earnings.

Among the players Barcelona might want to move on are (Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, Franck Kessié and Raphinha) but first the club must register already agreed deals such as those of Ronald Araujo, Gavi, Marcos Alonso, Sergi Roberto and Íñigo Martínez , who have reached a verbal agreement to join the Camp Nou from Athletic Bilbao. Moreover, sources at LaLiga say: “Messi’s contract cannot be less than €25m based on the calculations we have made in relation to what he earns PSG.”

Messi keeps up to date with what’s happening at Barcelona and follows the team’s games. As such, he is aware that these are difficult times for his former club, who are embroiled in the Negreira refereeing scandal – for which the club remains under investigation and is facing a possible sanction by UEFA – and due to the move to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys while renovation works are carried out at Camp Nou.

With a third season at PSG ruled out and Barcelona struggling economically, Messi is left in limbo. The Argentina captain has a sensational offer to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, where Al-Hilal has presented a deal worth €400m a season. He is also a longtime target for MLS club Inter Miami, which David Beckham co-owns.

Messi during a league match against Real Sociedad. Albert Gea (Portal)

Barcelona players are desperate to meet up with Messi

While Messi’s return to the Camp Nou will be difficult financially, he would be welcomed with open arms by his former teammates. “There is a lack of leadership here. It lacks a contagious player. Lewandowski is going his own way, Jordi Alba is who he is and Busquets doesn’t know what he’s going to do,” says a first-team player. “When Leo comes back, something else will make it. His presence makes winning mandatory,” adds a veteran of the Barcelona squad. But it’s not just the old guard that Messi wants back. “It’s a dream for youngsters like Gavi, Pedri and Araujo to play with Leo,” says a Barça official. The coaching staff, led by Xavi, with whom Messi has been so successful, have also been pushing for a meeting for some time.

However, not everyone at Barcelona sees Messi’s return through rose-colored glasses. There are those at Camp Nou who believe the Argentine would overshadow the emergence of new leaders within the squad – and reignite some bad habits. It also wouldn’t help Barça to rejuvenate the team, especially if Busquets and Jordi Alba decide to stay at the club.