The departure of Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain seems sealed. The Argentine world star was suspended for a PR trip to Saudi Arabia. Messi could also switch to the Saudi league for the coming season, on social media he has already raved about the country on the Arabian Gulf, where he could become part of the sports washing strategy of those in power.
For France’s largest sports newspaper, there is only one question: “Barca, Inter Miami or Saudi Arabia – where will Lionel Messi end up?” That’s the headline of “L’Équipe” on Wednesday morning (May 3rd, 2023) in its online edition. That the Argentinian superstar will still play in the jersey of Paris Saint-Germain in the coming season seems impossible, also for other French media.
On Tuesday evening (May 2nd, 2023) it was announced that Messi had been suspended by his club for two weeks. “During the suspension, Messi will not be able to train, play or be paid,” a source close to the club told AFP about the sanction. The top French club has not yet officially commented on this. At the latest with the suspension, the club sealed Messi’s departure from Paris, wrote “L’Équipe”.
Messi as a PR ambassador in Saudi Arabia and not during training
Messi traveled to Saudi Arabia as part of his job as a tourism ambassador. According to “L’Équipe”, the trip is said to have been planned for the long term, but apparently not agreed with the club.
However, the world champion had not made a secret of his trip to Saudi Arabia: the Saudi Ministry of Tourism sent photos of Messi, his wife Antonella and their sons around the world via social media, to amusement parks and luxury shopping in Riyadh.
In Paris, enthusiasm was limited. Actually, a training session was scheduled at Paris St. Germain on Monday, one day after the 1:3 home defeat against Lorient. But Messi preferred to fulfill his well-paid PR duties in Saudi Arabia.
The resulting internal ban should be a clear indication of the future of the Argentine world star in Paris. According to media reports, negotiations with PSG are ongoing. Messi’s contract expires on June 30. He is said to have given the Qatari club owners a verbal promise to extend the contract by another year at the World Cup in Qatar. But supposedly not, under what conditions.
L’Equipe: ‘No turning back’ for Messi at PSG
After the trip to Saudi Arabia, whether it was an intentional provocation or a misunderstanding, Messi is now on the sidelines at PSG. “Paris will not keep Messi,” it said immediately on “L’Équipe” on Wednesday. On the front page, the French sports newspaper featured Qatari PSG boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Messi, with PSG fans in the background, and the headline: “The crack”. There is “no return” for Messi at PSG after the suspension, it said. The tabloid “Le Parisien” listed other players who have already been sanctioned in PSG history. There shouldn’t be any exceptions.
Messi has lost a lot of credit with many PSG fans anyway, since the World Cup triumph in December his form has decreased significantly, the whistles in the Prinzenpark were recently unmistakable.
PSG before the rebuild – probably without Messi
Even those responsible for PSG have not recently given the impression that they actually want to push Messi with all their might to extend the contract. By winning the world title, the Argentinian superstar ticked off his last major sporting goal and can now slowly let his career coast to a halt.
PSG, in turn, continue chasing the longed-for Champions League win despite ludicrous investments by Qatari club owners and superstar trio of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. In the Champions League, PSG failed again prematurely, this time against a anything but overpowering FC Bayern. The team still doesn’t look competitive compared to the top European clubs. A rebuilding of the team, possibly for a change with players who provide more stability defensively, seems unavoidable.
Alleged 300 million offer from Al-Hilal
A 35-year-old world footballer who actually left his legacy in Doha with the World Cup trophy in his hands would probably be dispensable. In any case, since his arrival in Paris two years ago, Messi hasn’t managed to bring the club any closer to the European top either.
The fact that the Argentinean is said to have received an offer from the Saudi club Al-Hilal, with an obscene annual salary of more than 300 million euros, could come at the right time for PSG. The news of Messi’s ban in Barcelona immediately raised new hopes of bringing the Barca idol back. But this seems rather unlikely, not least because of the still uncertain financial situation at the Catalans, who, among other things, have just borrowed 1.45 billion euros to renovate the Camp Nou stadium.
Messi raves about Saudi Arabia
The Saudis, on the other hand, would also like to pay a lot of money for Messi’s pension contract, after his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo is already playing in the Saudi league. Messi’s signing would be another milestone in the Saudis’ sportswashing strategy, which is consistently pursuing the path to securing influence in world sport.
Messi has at least sent clear signals about how comfortable he feels in the Arabian Gulf: “Who would have thought that Saudi Arabia would be so green?” love exploring the unexpected wonders whenever I can. Visit Saudi Arabia.” Soon it may also be the home of the most famous soccer player in the world.