Messi to LEAVE PSG this summer as Barcelona close in

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 22 Apr 2023 20:21 BST
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi will leave PSG this summer when his contract expires, according to both L’Equipe and the Mirror.

The Argentina international star has been at the Ligue 1 side for the past two seasons, but his adventure in French soil is set to come to an end this summer unless there is a dramatic shift in events.

Messi does have a one-year option in his contract at PSG that he can trigger, but it is stated that the latest updates do not tend towards that direction.

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According to the Mirror, PSG are in no rush to negotiate a new deal for Messi as Nasser Al-Khelaifi wants to change the direction of the club. The PSG president is keen to make the club more financially sustainable and aims to reduce the number of star names in the squad, while placing a greater emphasis on young French talents.

Barcelona closing in on Messi deal

This is music to the ears of Barcelona, who are eager to welcome the World Cup winner back to the club after a two-year absence.

Indeed, Camp Nou looks Messi’s likeliest destination for the start of next season, with the club working hard to overcome financial obstacles that have been placed in their way via Financial Fair Play (FFP).

Barcelona must either raise or make cuts worth around €200 million by the end of June if they are to sign players for next season. However, reports in Spain suggest they are looking into the possibility of activating another financial lever, which allowed them to experience a successful summer transfer campaign in 2022.

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Bringing Messi back would undoubtedly be a major coup for the Camp Nou outfit, who believe a return of the Argentine would represent a huge financial boost for the club. They believe the attacker’s brand could match of Nike’s Air Jordan, which has a kit manufacturing deal with PSG.

Barca are seeking solutions to allow them to become more competitive in the Champions League after being knocked out of the competition at the group stage for the second season in succession, but they will likely go into the 2023/24 tournament as top seeds, with the La Liga title only a matter of weeks away.