Lionel Messi Set to Depart PSG as Confirmed by Manager Christophe Galtier
Paris St-Germain (PSG) manager Christophe Galtier has announced that Lionel Messi will play his final match for the club against Clermont on Saturday. The 35-year-old Argentine forward’s departure from PSG was previously reported, with his contract set to expire this summer.
Having joined PSG on a free transfer from Barcelona in July 2021, Messi contributed to the team’s back-to-back Ligue 1 title wins. Galtier expressed his privilege in coaching “the best player in the history of football” and hopes that Messi will receive a warm farewell at the Parc des Princes.
Increased security measures were implemented at the residences of Messi, Neymar, Marco Verratti, and Galtier last month following fan protests triggered by a defeat to Lorient and Messi’s two-week suspension for unauthorized travel to Saudi Arabia, for which he apologized to his teammates.
After captaining Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup, Messi seemed poised to stay at PSG upon his return from the tournament. However, an initial agreement to extend his stay by a year was later reconsidered.
During the current season, Messi has recorded 21 goals and 20 assists across all competitions for PSG, accumulating a total of 32 goals in 74 appearances for the club. PSG’s Champions League campaigns have ended in elimination at the last-16 stage in the past two seasons.
According to Spanish football writer Guillem Balague, Messi is expected to make a decision about his future soon, but a return to his former club Barcelona, where he spent 21 years, is not on the cards.
