The 1978 FIFA World Cup winner, Mario Alberto Kempes, is putting cold water on FC Barcelona’s pursuit of Lionel Messi this summer.
Messi will become a free agent in June when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires. As a result, the Spanish club is dreaming and doing everything possible financially to reunite with their former star player.
However, Kempes, a fellow Argentine, advised his compatriot to spurn the Catalan and do everything possible to remain with the French giants.
“I don’t think it’s healthy for him to return to Barcelona,” Kempes told Super Deportivo Radio (h/t Mundo Deportivo). “He’d be better off in France so that he gets to the next World Cup calmly; he should stay there. Barcelona’s goals are different; he’s still building up after his departure.
“There’s a lot of trouble. Being selfish and thinking about the Argentine team, let him stay at PSG. For physical and mental peace of mind, it is more likely that I will reach the national team fresher in France than in Barcelona.”
Despite Barcelona possibly cooking up the idea of a Messi museum to help fund the return of the 2022 World Cup winner, PSG reportedly remains the priority for the veteran goal scorer.
Messi has begun developing chemistry with Kylian Mbappe after Neymar Jr. suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Furthermore, it is no surprise that the 24-year-old also wants to remain in Paris, per a report.
Suppose PSG can offload Neymar, who is under contract until 2027. In that case, this summer, perhaps Messi might remain, considering it’s in the club’s best interest to use the wages made by the Argentine and Brazilian to add further depth to the squad.
