Soccer

Galtier confirms Messi will leave PSG and defends Argentinian’s time at club

35-year-old has been linked with Barcelona and Saudi Arabia

Messi will play his final game for PSG on Saturday. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images

Thu Jun 1 2023 - 13:01

Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier has confirmed Lionel Messi will play his final match for the club this weekend. Messi’s contract with the French club expires this summer, and Galtier confirmed on Thursday what many had expected.

“I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football. This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes,” said Galtier, whose team play Clermont Foot on Saturday.

Lionel Messi has still had a prolific season in front of goal but his presence has not improved PSG or the mood of their fans.

“This year he has been an important part of the team, always available. I don’t think any of the comments or criticisms are justified. He’s always been there for the team. It’s been a great privilege to accompany him throughout the season.”

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While the 35-year-old won the World Cup with Argentina last December, his time at PSG has been far from an unmitigated success. He arrived at PSG in August 2021, joining a star-studded team that includes Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, with the hope of winning the club’s first Champions League title. Although PSG clinched their 11th Ligue 1 title last weekend, in March they were once again knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16.

In recent weeks Messi has received abuse from some sections of PSG fans, and last month the club suspended him following an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia. Messi has a commercial contract with Saudi Arabia to promote tourism, and has been linked with a lucrative move there at the end of the season.

There has also been talk of a return to Barcelona, where he spent the majority of his career and won 10 La Liga titles and the Champions League on four occasions. Messi has also been linked with a move to David Beckham’s MLS team Inter Miami.

Messi has scored 32 goals in 74 games in all competitions for PSG.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema was reluctant to talk about his future on Thursday, fuelling speculation he could move to Saudi Arabia in the close season following 14 trophy-laden years. After the 35-year-old striker was awarded the Marca Legend prize at a ceremony organised by the Spanish sports publication, the Frenchman was asked if he was staying at Real Madrid.

“Saturday I have a game (against Athletic Bilbao), tomorrow I have a training session ... so at the moment I’m in Madrid,” Benzema said.

The forward was then asked if he planned to address the Real fans about his future, and said: “Why do I have to talk about the future? I am at Real Madrid. The reality is different, not what is said on the internet.”

The Ballon d’Or winner looked set to stay in Madrid for another year after a season in which he struggled with injuries and missed out on France’s World Cup squad in Qatar. However, according to widespread media reports Benzema has been offered a deal worth more than €100 million by Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad.

His former Real team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo signed a 2½-year contract, estimated by media to be worth more than €200 million, with Al Nassr in December.

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