Lionel Messi’s PSG SECRET revealed ahead of Inter Miami transfer

Robin Bairner

• 9 Jun 2023 07:29 BST
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi will leave PSG at the end of the month to sign for MLS club Inter Miami on a free transfer.

The World Cup player will leave the Ligue 1 champions with a mixed legacy. In his second season at the club, he produced impressive personal numbers but was criticised for a lack of investment in the project and also for being a member of a team that underperformed.

One of those who will not be too concerned to see Messi depart for Inter Miami, with the deal announced by the player on Wednesday, is former PSG and France star Jerome Rothen, who has often criticised the attitude of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

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On Thursday, Rothen revealed to RMC that PSG covered up at least one incident of Messi’s hubris.

“Remember the day he left training? The club covered it up an said it was a minor calf injury. It was wrong, all wrong,” Rothen revealed.

“The reason? Messi was fed up with what he was offered in training. He was not so well in his head so he left training. He went back to the locker room, he took a shower and he left. It shows how much he respected his coach and his teammates.”

Rothen added in a barbed tone: “It was surely a day when his children were suffering.”

MORE: Inter Miami line up World Cup winners to join Messi

Messi’s training demands at PSG

Messi made significant demands regarding PSG training, according to the former player.

“He very often wanted to change the pace of training. He didn't want to train in the morning. He told the staff several times that training in the morning is not good. That you have to train in the afternoon,” Rothen added. “Fortunately, the staff did not give in to him. This shows that he wanted to change certain things and that he did not want to adapt.”

Messi is expected to sign for Inter Miami imminently, with his debut pencilled in for next month.