When Lionel Messi left FC Barcelona in 2021, many assumed that Paris Saint-Germain was his next destination, considering the capital club could afford him. However, that might not be entirely true.
As Messi was in tears about leaving the Spanish club, former AC Milan director Paolo Maldini noted that the Serie A giants wanted to get in the mix to land the Argentine. So, why didn’t Milan pull off this significant move?
Paolo Maldini breaks silence on Lionel Messi chase in 2021
“We tried to sign Messi when he was free after Barça when he left the club in August,” Maldini said (h/t Fabrizio Romano). “We called, and we tired, but it remained an idea… just because Leonardo told me PSG were ahead and already in advanced talks to sign Messi.”
🇦🇷 Former AC Milan director Paolo Maldini: "We tried to sign Messi when he was free after Barça, when he left the club in August".
"We called and we tired but it remained an idea… just because Leonardo told me PSG were ahead and already in advanced talks to sign Messi". pic.twitter.com/Uzf8OmFQlI
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 1, 2023
Although Messi’s signing was a success off the field, he did not perform up to expectations on the pitch. In the two seasons that the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner played for the French capital team, they could not progress beyond the UEFA Champions League round of 16.
Messi left PSG this past summer as a free agent. After interest from FC Barcelona and Al-Hilal, the veteran decided to exit Europe and begin a new venture in MLS with Inter Miami.
