Last year, the entire soccer world was shocked when the news came out that Lionel Messi was leaving FC Barcelona. Lionel Messi left his boyhood club in August 2021 after spending two decades at the club. The Argentine talisman left Barcelona and joined Paris Saint-Germain last year.
Several rumors had emerged in the last few months that stated Messi could go back to Barcelona again. However, reports from the last couple of days indicate that Lionel Messi will renew his contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
Why is Lionel Messi upset with FC Barcelona’s President?
Lionel Messi’s love story with Barcelona came to a tragic end when the Spanish club announced Messi’s departure through an Instagram post. The news came as a shock to everyone because it was expected that Messi would sign a new contract with the Catalan club.
Lionel Messi’s Barca contract came to an end in the summer of 2021, and it was decided that Messi would sign a contract renewal with Barca after he came back from the International break. President Joan Laporta had earlier promised the Barca fans that Messi will renew with the club.
In fact, it was the main reason why Laporta won the Presidential elections in 2021 for a second time. Laporta previously had reigned as Barca President from 2003-2010, and he was re-elected in 2021 after Josep Bartomeu’s resignation.
It was reported that the deal was already finalized and the only thing left was Messi’s signature. However, ultimately Barca did not renew Messi’s deal to maintain their salary cap.
Although Messi had agreed to a salary cut of almost 75%, Barca stated that signing Messi will make their total salary cap account for 110% of their income. This is deemed to be illegal according to the financial fair play rules imposed by La Liga.
❗Barcelona's wage cap for this season will be €97m (€285m less than last season). Real Madrid: €739m.
• Messi and Griezmann's departure and the salary reductions allowed to register the new signings but they were not able to wipe out the massive debt.
Via (🟢): @esport3 pic.twitter.com/vqXM9aMqee
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) September 29, 2021
Apparently, this incident has created a sour relationship between Lionel Messi and Joan Laporta. Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, had previously even asked Laporta to stop talking about his son after Messi’s departure from the club.
Messi felt that Laporta had used him to win the election and then went back on his word. According to Messi, Laporta could have tried something more to keep Messi in Barcelona.
Will Messi sign a one-year contract extension with PSG?
As per soccer transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Lionel Messi has had a verbal agreement with PSG to sign a one-year contract extension. There were rumors of MLS clubs Inter Miami and FC Barcelona trying to sign Messi. However, as per reports, Messi never had any direct contact with these two clubs.
🚨🇦🇷 Paris Saint-Germain reached a verbal agreement with Lionel Messi to extend the contract. It’s a verbal pact to continue together. #PSG
No decision yet on leght of contract & salary, it will be decided in a new meeting soon.
Al Khelaifi and Campos, working on it. pic.twitter.com/upho1SCc7P
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 21, 2022
After Messi had a rather tough start to his first year, he has come out all guns blazing this season. Lionel Messi admitted that it was tough at the beginning because of the suddenness of the transfer. However, this season, he feels much more comfortable. The PSG’s number 30 has already registered 7 goals and 10 assists in Ligue 1 this season.
Lionel Messi is apparently happy at PSG and he wants to continue at the Ligue 1 club. The former Barcelona star wants to win a Champions League with PSG, which will be the first in the club’s history and Messi’s fifth.
PSG has a star-studded team, which features players like Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Jr besides Messi. PSG has qualified for the round of 16 in this season’s Champions League, where they will face Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.