Barcelona suffer blow as PSG optimistic of Messi stay

Karan Tejwani

• 16 Dec 2022 16:05 CST
• 3 min read

Barcelona have suffered a blow in their hopes of signing Lionel Messi as Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed their desire to keep the Argentine star.

The Blaugrana wanted to bring back their leading goalscorer as his contract as set to run out at the end of the season but talks haven’t got far.

There isn’t a clear indication they can financially afford to bring back Messi given his high wages and big contract at PSG but club President Joan Laporta and Xavi haven’t ruled out the possibility.

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Now, PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi has provided a positive update of his own, suggesting that Messi is happy in Paris and there’s a strong possibility he remains at the Parc des Princes beyond this campaign.

PSG optimistic of Messi stay

“I confirm a thousand times that Leo Messi is very happy with PSG,” Al-Khelaifi told RMC Sport. “I think he wants to stay. We will discuss after the World Cup.”

“He performed fantastic this season for us, he's scored a lot of goals and assists for the national team and for the club,” the PSG President added.

READ: How much does Lionel Messi earn and what is the football legend’s net worth?

“So what we agreed together - that after the World Cup, sit down together. But both sides - our side of the club and him - are very happy, so we will talk after the World Cup.”

Messi has always maintained he will decide his future after the World Cup is complete and that will be on Sunday after Argentina take on France in football’s showpiece event.

Argentina’s number 10 has had a fantastic World Cup, scoring five goals and providing three assists in his country’s run to the final, where he will be hoping to lift the one trophy that’s eluded him in his career.

He will come up against many of his PSG team-mates – including Kylian Mbappe – in the final, hoping to get one over them at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.