Paris Saint-Germain are UNHAPPY with Messi
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 15 Nov 2021 16:24 GMT
- 3 min read
Lionel Messi’s beginning to life at Paris Saint-Germain has not been ideal.
The performances of the Ligue 1 leaders might have been sufficient to give them a succession of strong results in France’s top flights, but a lack of style and a failure to play convincingly has led to questions raised over head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Additionally, though, PSG are starting to raise questions over star summer arrival Messi.
Trending
Why Messi has not impressed at PSG
According to El Espanol, a Spanish broadsheet, the French side have been left unimpressed by Messi’s physical condition after more than three months at the club.
Indeed, the Argentine has managed only five Ligue 1 matches over that period and has failed to find the net in a single one of them. He has, however, scored three times in the Champions League, including a vital double in a 3-2 victory over RB Leipzig at home.
Messi, much like PSG, has failed to reach his potential this season. The club are pinning this down partly due to his failure to gain full fitness.
Additionally, though, PSG are said to be unimpressed with Messi’s commitment to playing international football. Messi has played six times for Argentina since joining the club and is set to feature against Brazil on Tuesday.
Messi at PSG
| Apps | Goals | Assists | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligue 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Champions League | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 8 | 3 | 0 |
This is a particular issue for the French side as Messi had missed their recent matches with a muscular injury and they fear it could flair up again.
With Brazil already qualified for World Cup 2022, Argentina are in a position of strength and it would require an incredible turnaround for them to falter now. As such, it is seen as needless for Messi to be featuring in such a fixture.
Furthermore, there are those in PSG’s ranks who feel it was a bad move to sign Messi as it would hamper their chances of signing Kylian Mbappe to a new contract.
Messi has a two-year deal with PSG, with the option of a third, and there is little doubt that if his form does not improve, he will be labelled as a disappointment – if not an outright flop.
