How Mbappe is pushing Messi away from PSG

Carlo Garganese

• 25 Jan 2023 17:00 GMT
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi’s chances of signing a new contract at PSG are being hampered by Kylian Mbappe.

FootMercato reports that Mbappe’s astronomical £1 million per week contract that he signed last year is making it difficult for PSG to afford a new Messi deal.

As a result, it is uncertain whether PSG will be able to pay Messi what he expects financially.

Lionel Messi at PSG: Goals, assists, results & fixtures in 2022-23

Furthermore, Messi’s agent is still owed commission from the attacker’s free transfer move from Barcelona in 2021.

Messi’s contract at PSG expires at the end of the current season, with the Parisians currently in negotiations to renew his deal.

Barcelona want to bring the 35-year-old back to Camp Nou, while Inter Miami also want to take him to the United States.

There has also been interest from Saudi Arabian clubs since Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr this month.

As it stands, it is believed that a new contract with PSG is the most likely outcome but FootMercato reports that Mbappe has put a spanner in the works.

Messi’s move to PSG

Messi completed a shock Free Transfer to PSG in the summer of 2021 after he was unable to sign a new contract with Barcelona.

The Argentine legend broke virtually every record during over 20 years at Camp Nou, scoring an incredible 672 goals in 778 games.

His peak was arguably during Guardiola’s spell as coach of Barca between 2008 and 2012 when they won three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues together.

He endured a difficult first season at PSG with just six Ligue 1 goals but has been back to his best this campaign.

Messi has 13 goals and 14 assists in all competitions so far and he also led Argentina to World Cup glory last month in Qatar.