- Nasima Akter
PSG Fans Whistle Over Messi's Name During Match
PSG (Paris Saint-Germain) fans showed their displeasure once again as they whistled Lionel Messi during the Ligue 1 match against Olympique Lyon at the Parc des Princes. This incident is not the first time the Argentina captain has faced such a reaction from the PSG fans, as they also booed him after the team failed in Europe against Bayern.
Meanwhile, Barcelona fans have been vocal on social media about their desire for Messi to return to Camp Nou, with many feeling that PSG doesn't appreciate the star enough.
A Planned Display
According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, PSG fans planned to whistle at Lionel Messi after their team's Champions League exit against Bayern Munich. A member of PSG's ultra group said, "We will whistle at Messi this Sunday. He has too high a salary in relation to what he offers on the pitch."
The PSG ultras blamed Messi for their loss in the round of 16 against Bayern Munich, as he failed to make an impact across both legs of the tie. The fans were also upset about his contract situation and accused the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner of not committing himself fully to the collective efforts at the club level.
Since Messi had not signed an extension to his contract in France, he became a target for disgruntled supporters. However, PSG's management wanted to keep the superstar on their team.
"At the moment, we are in discussions with Messi for his extension. I would like to keep him in this project, I can’t hide it. We are talking at the moment to achieve this goal and continue to have him with us," said the club's management to reporters.
The Rumors Around Messi
Rumors have been circulating about Messi's return to FC Barcelona, where he played for over a decade and became one of the greatest players of all time.
The club's vice president, Rafael Yuste, said that they are in contact with Messi and that he knows how much they appreciate him. The current FC Barcelona boss, Xavi Hernández, is reportedly counting on Messi in his 2024 plans, adding fuel to the rumors.
There were also rumors about Messi moving to other clubs like MLS, Saudi Arabia, and even his first club, Newell's Old Boys. But it seems that a return to FC Barcelona is the most likely option for the superstar.
Despite the fans' reaction, Messi is still a PSG player for now, and the club is reportedly making layoffs to have more flexibility in their transfer budget. Only time will tell where the future takes Messi. On the other hand, the player is still gaining recognition for his achievements, if the statue he received is anything to go by.
PSG's Status
On the team's end, the Parisians have little left to play for in the season after exiting both the cup and Champions League.
Manager Christophe Galtier made some attacking changes, but PSG rarely tested Anthony Lopes, with a deflected strike that required a diving stop being the closest they came to a real threat. It's not going to be pretty if PSG continues to turn in these kinds of performances.
While things are looking grim for the team, they still have a chance at reaching far in the competition.
