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The photo of Messi that baffled PSG fans

2023-05-31T17:52:51.538Z

Highlights: Lionel Messi's contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30. The Argentine has been linked with a move to Inter Miami. Barcelona is expected to offer Messi a two-year contract. The Catalan club's president Joan Laporta has given the order to put Messi's signing before any other operation, according to Spanish media. The news comes as PSG unveil a new shirt with Messi's number 30 on it, but he will not play in it next season.


At this time, Messi's future is uncertain. While there is talk of an Inter Miami-Barcelona triangulation, Paris Saint-Germain showed Leo in his new shirt.


In the official premises of Paris Saint Germain on the famous Champs Elysée avenue the shirt with the number 30 and the photos showing Lionel Messi disappeared 20 days ago by decision of the club in the middle of a tense negotiation for the renewal. This Wednesday, the image of the Argentine returned as it is part of the campaign to present the new shirt, while in France they say he will return to Barcelona when his contract ends on June 30, after triangulation with Inter Miami.

The information was published by L'Equipe, the most important sports media in the Gallic country, which indicates that the Catalan club launched this plan B before its budgetary difficulties so that, thanks to this triangulation, Leo plays on loan between six and 18 months. In addition, he clarifies that this option is not new, since both entities negotiated it last year without success.

In the Champs Elysee venue, where the shirt with Messi's number 30 had disappeared, Leo appears on the poster of the new shirt.

While Messi has a proposal from Saudi Arabia in which they offer him the highest contract in history – there is talk of 1,400 million euros for two seasons – for L'Equipe the option of buying Inter Miami and the loan to Barcelona is one of the options "with greater sense" for Leo, since he would continue playing in Europe until the Copa America 2024, after which he would debut in American soccer.

Also, from Barcelona, the sports newspaper Sport says that "the Messi folder becomes the absolute priority" and the president of the club, Joan Laporta, "has given the order to put the signing of the Argentine before any other operation."

His Catalan counterpart, Mundo Deportivo, adds that Barcelona paved the financial way to propose Leo a two-year contract, after the departures of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, and its leaders met with Spanish football authorities in Madrid.

"The emissaries of Barcelona left the meeting with good feelings and it is expected that the answer will arrive next week," they remark in the Spanish media.

As it transpired, the Catalan club awaits the approval of La Liga to accelerate the so-called "Operation Messi" and thus be able to send a "concrete" proposal to the Argentine striker who will play next Saturday his last game for Paris Saint Germain, where he arrived on August 10, 2021 with a contract of two seasons plus a supplementary one that will not be activated.

PSG "feigned dementia" and put Messi as a model for the new shirt

Messi poses in the new PSG shirt, although his contract expires in 30 days.

The situation baffled the fans. It happened this Wednesday: the world champion with Argentina in Qatar was one of the models in the presentation of the new shirt of Paris Saint Germain for next season, although it is a fact that he will not continue playing in the club.

Messi, like Brazil's Neymar, who is also unlikely to remain at PSG, appeared in advertising alongside Parisian striker and idol Kyllian Mbappe, while the absence of Spanish defender Sergio Ramos was surprising as he confirmed he will remain in Paris next season.

The presence of Messi is striking since the new policy of PSG is to get rid of the "galácticos" and bet on another profile of players, largely because the strategy did not work in recent years, according to the sports newspaper AS of Spain.

However, the owners of PSG know that Messi and Neymar are indisputable elements in terms of marketing, both remain players of the club for another month and will try to get the most benefit possible.

For now, Messi's farewell will come this Saturday at 16 when the current champion of France, who won his 11th Ligue 1 and ninth in 11 years, receives Clermont at the Parc des Princes.

See also

Lionel Messi, in decisive hours to define his future: an enigmatic club in Europe joins the negotiating table with Al Hilal

Lionel Messi went with Antonela Roccuzzo to see Coldplay and got a warm ovation as Barcelona bids farewell to the old Camp Nou

Source: clarin

All news articles on 2023-05-31

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