Lionel Messi left Paris Saint-Germain this summer and continued his career by signing with Inter Miami. However, did the Argentine want to leave the French capital?
Messi was out of a contract after spending two seasons with PSG. Even though there were reports of the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner extending his contract, it never occurred.
Nonetheless, RMC Sport pundit Jérôme Rothen spoke with Colinterview, and the Frenchman noted that Messi wanted to remain in Paris. Still, with the toxic environment surrounding him and other players, the club probably decided to go in a different direction.
“[PSG president] Nasser Al-Khelaïfi cut to the chase, he really cut to the chase,” Rothen said (h/t Le10Sport). “There are players who had resigned, for example, Verratti, he kicked him out. Like Neymar like Messi … They all wanted to stay.
“We can say what we want. Messi can put shots to the right or the left at PSG. As luck would have it, he wanted to stay. PSG made him understand that it was not possible. His attitude was not possible. So much the better.”
Messi and Ramos’ exit were the first significant exits that the Ligue 1 giants saw over the summer. Neymar Jr. left to play with Al-Hilal; meanwhile, Marco Verratti went to Qatar to join Al-Arabi.
PSG overhauled their attack and midfield and brought in a new manager. The capital club likely hopes that moving away from the big-name players and building a team is the formula to finally get them to win a UEFA Champions League trophy.
