Five Reasons Lionel Messi’s Transfer to PSG proved unsuccessful. It appears that the Lionel Messi era at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is coming to an end soon.
The club was upset with Messi’s recent vacation to Saudi Arabia, which caused him to skip training sessions, it was reported earlier this week. According to additional reports, La Pulga would get a two-week suspension as well as a fine from the Parisians for the unapproved travel.
Then the shocking revelation came. On May 3, transfer news analyst Fabrizio Romano tweeted that Lionel Messi would leave PSG this summer once his contract expired.
The transfer, which gave the Parc des Princes faithful great delight and hope, now appears to be coming to an end sooner than the two years that were originally planned. Few would contest the success of the transfer, and most would concede that the Ligue 1 powerhouses’ prospects did not much improve as a result of adding Messi.
Here are five explanations for why Lionel Messi’s transfer to PSG was unsuccessful:
#1 Lionel Messi was unable to lead PSG to the coveted UEFA Champions League championship.
PSG acquired Lionel Messi in part to end their UEFA Champions League winless streak. Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe’s talent helped them reach the championship game in the 2019–20 season, but they failed miserably in their previous two efforts.
PSG finished second in Messi’s debut season’s Champions League group behind eventual champions Manchester City. The opposition they faced in the Round of 16 was Real Madrid. Messi found it difficult to make an impression in either game as the French superpower lost 3-2 overall.
They again placed second this year, this time falling short of SL Benfica. Messi once again failed to score when they faced Bayern Munich in the Round of 16, and they were eliminated from the competition following a 3-0 overall loss.
#2 Due to Messi’s arrival, Kylian Mbappe at PSG has somewhat lost his prominence.
Before Lionel Messi arrived in 2021, Kylian Mbappe was unquestionably the face of PSG’s struggling project. However, the majority of non-French media outlets quickly shifted their attention to the Argentine maestro.
Once Messi and Argentina defeated Mbappe’s France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, that only became more obvious.
Mbappe has significantly increased his output while playing with La Pulga, contributing to 35 additional goals and 74 of his own in just 84 outings across all competitions. But they frequently appeared out of sync, and their collaboration never really succeeded on the biggest stages.
#3 Messi’s recent behaviors don’t assist his case, and PSG’s fan base feels toxic.
Regarding Lionel Messi, the PSG supporters have been visibly angry. The current campaign has gotten off to a fast start after a difficult first season, although neither yet won the desired UEFA Champions League championship. Though not entirely Messi’s fault, the team lacks a distinct identity.
The Parisians have seen a lot of jeers at home games, especially this season, in response to the Argentine’s failings. Additionally, Messi’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia, which many believe to be the turning point in this relationship, sparked anti-Messi chants outside PSG’s headquarters (via Fabrizio Romano).
Before Lionel Messi arrived, many people believed that the French giants were a mess. Only a few months after it appeared that a contract extension was imminent, he hasn’t done much to alter that, and the club is back where it started.
#4 Lionel Messi was anticipated to change, PSG’s reliance on individual brilliance.
Lionel Messi’s versatility is one of the reasons teams are more interested in signing him than most other contemporary superstars. In his final years at Barcelona, La Pulga developed to become a creator even though the goals kept coming. Because he didn’t have to be the center of attention, many saw him as a player who could fit into a team plan.
Despite this, Messi has averaged 81.6 touches per Ligue 1 game this term compared to 78.6 touches per game last year. Instead of creating a squad around the duo, PSG has continued to rely on his and Kylian Mbappe’s talents to save them.
Most of this is not Messi’s fault. PSG struggled to find the appropriate tactical lineup under Christophe Galtier and Mauricio Pochettino before him, and their transfer business was disorganized. The legend from Argentina was there, but it didn’t solve a problem that had been bothering them for years. If anything, it has made it more pronounced.
#5 The player’s reputation has been damaged.
This will add to the Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo discussion, just like any headline involving the pair. The fact that Ronaldo has outperformed Messi internationally is one of the main advantages he has over the latter. Juventus, Real Madrid, and Manchester United all have his imprint.
Meanwhile, Messi continues to associate Barcelona with his greatest achievements in club football. His time at PSG in a division with less competitive teams hasn’t done anything to support his capacity to perform outside of Catalonia.
Ronaldo also faced a lot of backlash after relocating to Saudi Arabia in January of this year, with many speculating that it was due to the associated costs. Not quite four months have passed, and already the Telegraph is speculating that Messi would sign with a Saudi Pro League team this summer.
Before moving to Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s manner of leaving Manchester United was also closely scrutinized. Many believed that the legendary Portuguese player put his ego before the requirements of his squad.
The investigation into Messi’s allegedly unapproved vacation to Saudi Arabia is ongoing. Instead of helping his reputation in a year where he could win a record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or, his departure from Paris could have been handled better.
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