Former French forward Jerome Rothen has doubled down on his claim that Paris Saint-Germain would be better off without Lionel Messi next season.
Messi is on par to become a free agent in the upcoming summer transfer window. PSG is open to coming to terms with Messi on a new contract deal. However, the Argentine forward reportedly has not received an “acceptable offer” from the club.
Earlier this month, Rothen noted that PSG should avoid signing Messi to an extension deal. During an airing of his “Rothen s’enflamme” program on RMC Sport this past Thursday, the former French international once again advised PSG to not push to extend the Argentine’s stay at the club.
“But I think that today it has no interest, when you see the wage bill of PSG, to extend a player like Leo Messi,” Rothen said. “By extending him, it will block to recruit other players.”
Messi is the second-highest-paid player in world football today, as he is reportedly earning €63.64 million (gross) from PSG this season.
Messi is currently set to feature in PSG’s upcoming Ligue 1 home fixture against Lille OSC on matchday 24.