Lionel Messi has opened up on the ups and downs relationship he endured with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at PSG.
Messi shocked the world after he joined PSG in the summer of 2021 following his shocking exit from his boyhood club Barcelona.
The Argentine was welcomed with plenty of hope, and a huge set of PSG fans were present to watch his official unveiling.
In his first season in Paris, Lionel Messi only scored six league goals and then failed to push PSG towards their first-ever Champions League win.
Messi was roundly booed by supporters at the Parc des Princes, and this got worse during his second season with PSG.
The French Champions once again failed in the European level, despite having Lionel Messi and the criticism then got even worse.
Messi helped Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and supporters protested at the club’s headquarters after he was suspended and fined by the club after his trip to Saudi Arabia.
Lionel Messi has now revealed the relationship he endured with fans but has claimed that he is not alone, with former team-mates Neymar and Kylian Mbappe facing a similar issue.
Messi while peaking to RMC Sport, said that: “At first it was great, I received a lot of encouragement as I’ve often said, but then people started to treat me differently, some of the Paris fans. The majority, on the other hand, treated me as well as they did at the start.”
“There was a rift with a large section of the Paris crowd. Of course it wasn’t my intention.”
“But these are things that have already happened with Mbappé and Neymar too, it’s their way of doing things. But I still remember all those people who supported me, as they did at the start.”
Messi will be hoping to have a favorable relationship with Inter Miami fans following his PSG exit.
Leandro Paredes, Messi’s ex-PSG teammate, and Argentina player also revealed that he was at a loss over Messi’s treatment in France.
TyC Sports asked for insight into the treatment of PSG players, Leandro Paredes responded: “I don’t know, I had to spend four years in Paris and I enjoyed it a lot.”
“We played important things, and we were very close to winning the Champions League, but afterward, I can’t explain why the treatment and reaction towards us.”
What Did PSG Fans Do to Messi And Others?
PSG fans in May threw abusive chants at Lionel Messi and Neymar after gathering en masse outside the club’s headquarters.
Messi was serving a suspension then for his unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia with his family and was on the verge of leaving the club.
Neymar on the other hand was also rumored to be set to leave the French side after his season was marred with injuries.
The duo, together with Kylian Mbappe failed to bring the Champions League trophy to the French capital and that aggravated the fans.
Immediately it was confirmed that Lionel Messi was set to leave the club, fans gathered at the club’s headquarters to protest.
It was also reported that “Messi, son of b****” was being chanted in both French and Spanish.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés Messi, a forward for Ligue 1 team Paris Saint-Germain, was born in Argentina on June 24, 1987. He is also the team’s captain for his country.
Messi, who is recognized as one of the all-time best players, has a record seven Ballon d’Or victories, a record six European Golden Shoes, and in 2020, he was selected for the Ballon d’Or Dream Team.
Messi’s move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 surprised the football world, and after a lackluster debut year, he has failed to post any noteworthy stats in his second season.
Following his highly publicized summer transfer from Barcelona, Lionel Messi has had difficulty finding his best form for Paris Saint-Germain.
From next season, he will represent Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer.
What do you think about Messi’s treatment in France? Was it justified for his lack of performance or was the fans too harsh? Tell us what you think below.
