Lionel Messi to leave PSG this Summer

It seems as though from the moment Argentinian Lionel Messi left Barcelona two summers ago, the first thing everyone was talking about was when he’d leave Paris Saint-Germain. Strange, perhaps, but such is the volatile nature of transactions at football’s highest level.

Although it took two full years to make the speculation of summer 2021 count, it finally happened. PSG manager Christophe Galtier confirmed as much on Thursday ahead of the club’s final domestic league match this weekend against Clermont.

Don’t forget to check out our Ligue 1, FA Cup and Champions League odds for more soccer action to end the season.

Messi Leaves PSG. Barcelona Next?

Speaking of the nature and tone that football-related conversations take, consider that despite winning Ligue 1 both years – the French equivalent of the Premier League, ergo the top flight of French football – and the French Trophée des Champions this year, his time will be considered by many to be a failure.

How on earth could that be?

Well, this is where football gets complicated. Messi wasn’t brought in from Spain to win Ligue 1 or the domestic cups. Paris Saint-Germain was winnings titles for several years before his arrival. How could they not with the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Neymar Jr?

No, the objective was to finally be crowned kings of Europe in the Champions League, but PSG was knocked out in the Round of 16 in both 2021-2022 by Real Madrid and 2022-2023 by Bayern Munich.

As such, the great experiment failed, to say nothing of the strange aura that has permeated out of Parc des Princes these past two seasons. Controversy over who would take penalty kicks, Mbappé maybe leaving the club, but maybe not. Messi maybe leaving last summer, then no, but now yes. the infamous trip to Saudi Arabia that forced PSG to suspend him. It was a lot of money spent to win a trophy they already captured multiple times without Messi.

Messi and current Barça manager Xavi have a long-standing relationship, having played together for many years. Reports are that not only does the Catalan club want him, but so too Saudi team Al Hilal, and MLS’s Inter Miami.

Stay tuned.