The fracture between Leo Messi and PSG is total. The commercial trip of the Argentine to Saudi Arabia this week despite the fact that coach Christophe Galtier decided at the last minute that the team had to train as punishment for the defeat against Lorient has been the last straw. The Parisian club has suspended two weeks of employment and salary for a player who throughout his career had always had exemplary behavior as a professional.
The indignation has also reached the stands with which Messi has never had an affinity. In fact, he was one of the great ones pointed out in the demonstration gathered on Wednesday afternoon in Paris by the Ultras Paris Collective (CUP) in front of the club's offices, in Boulogne-Billancourt. Some 300 fans asked for his departure. "We are fed up with mercenaries: throw Messi out" or chants in Spanish such as "Messi, son of a bitch".
Neymar, the most expensive signing in the history of football (222 million euros), was the other big name in the protests. "Fuck off!". Even a group of these fans went to the Brazilian's mansion to rebuke him. Nor was the board headed by Nasser Al-Khelaïfi spared, asking for his resignation as well as that of the rest of the leadership of the French club.
According to the CUP statement, they want to see that "things have to change" in a "structured and intelligent" way. It is not the first time that the CUP has asked for the head of the Qatari leadership. Last year he also sued him in the middle of the Parque de los Príncipes stadium.
The fans' frustration with the club's stars, led by Messi and Neymar, has been palpable for a long time, especially after the premature eliminations in the Champions League; in the round of 16 against Real Madrid in 2022 and also in the round of 16 against Bayern Munich this year. Precisely the first whores Messi received was after the elimination against the Bavarians.
Not even having what is considered the best footballer of the 21st century up front with Kylian Mbappé and Neymar has been enough to lift the most precious trophy, which is Qatar's true goal since the acquisition of PSG in 2011. PSG have gotten used to it. to settle for the league, although the domestic championship is not tied either after the latest setbacks. Olympique de Marseille, their great rival, is five points away with five games to go.
However the season ends, Messi will pack his bags after ending his relationship with PSG and deciding not to renew despite the fact that at the end of last year he had reached an agreement in principle to extend his stay in Paris.
The next destination is unknown. The wet dream of Barcelona is to see Messi dressed as a blaugrana again, although the operation requires economic engineering and the approval of LaLiga. The other option on the table is the proposal to play Saudi Arabia and meet again with Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League. As published by The Telepragh newspaper on Wednesday, his father is in negotiations with a club that offers him 360 million euros a year.
