Lionel Messi's transfer to PSG to be investigated
Karan Tejwani
- Updated: 17 Oct 2022 14:36 BST
- 3 min read
Paris Saint-Germain could have another scandal on their hands soon, and this time, it concerns the free transfer of Lionel Messi to the club in 2021.
Messi moved to the French club that summer after 17 years in Barcelona’s first team where he was incredibly successful, but the Catalan club could no longer afford to extend his deal.
He ended up moving to PSG on a free transfer, reuniting with former Barcelona team-mate Neymar and won Ligue 1 in his first season at the club.
Now, it’s emerged that the European Court will consider whether the signing of Messi by PSG violated UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules last year.
Related articles
Messi's wages causes PSG problem
The complaint has been raised by a Barcelona supporters’ group in Lyon and will be investigated next Tuesday by a chamber of the European Court in Luxembourg.
The group’s lawyer, Juan Branco, considers it a success that the complaint will be discussed in court, although it does not guarantee anything.
Although Messi made the move with no transfer fee going to Barcelona, his high wage package of €40 million-per-season has caused this situation.
Earlier this year, PSG were one of several clubs already warned by UEFA about their financial outlay and it was clear they couldn’t spend as freely as they wished as a result of it.
Lionel Messi in 9 Ligue 1 games for PSG this season: 🇦🇷
⚽️ 5 goals
🎯 7 assists (league leader with Neymar) pic.twitter.com/pN29ZAWwPp— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) October 15, 2022
In addition to Messi, PSG are already facing problems with their other forwards as reports emerged last week that Kylian Mbappe was unhappy at the club and was looking to leave, something the player himself denies.
Additionally, Neymar was in court in Barcelona on Monday to determine whether he and others committed fraud over his transfer to the Catalan club nearly a decade ago.
Messi’s future at PSG is still unclear, as he has been linked with a return to Barcelona once his contract with the French club expires at the end of the season.
