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| Galtier confirms Messi will leave PSG and defends Argentinian’s time at club | Galtier confirms Messi will leave PSG and defends Argentinian’s time at club |
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| Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier has confirmed Lionel Messi will play his final match for the club this weekend. | Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier has confirmed Lionel Messi will play his final match for the club this weekend. |
| Messi’s contract with the French club expires this summer and Galtier confirmed on Thursday what many had expected. | Messi’s contract with the French club expires this summer and Galtier confirmed on Thursday what many had expected. |
| “I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football. This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes,” said Galtier, whose team play Clermont Foot on Saturday. | “I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football. This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes,” said Galtier, whose team play Clermont Foot on Saturday. |
| “This year, he has been an important part of the team, always available. I don’t think any of the comments or criticisms are justified. He’s always been there for the team. It’s been a great privilege to accompany him throughout the season.” | “This year, he has been an important part of the team, always available. I don’t think any of the comments or criticisms are justified. He’s always been there for the team. It’s been a great privilege to accompany him throughout the season.” |
| While the 35-year-old won the World Cup with Argentina last December, his time at PSG has been far from an unmitigated success. He arrived at PSG in August 2021, joining a star-studded team that includes Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, with the hope of winning the club’s first Champions League title. Although PSG clinched their 11th Ligue 1 title last weekend, in March they were once again knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16. | While the 35-year-old won the World Cup with Argentina last December, his time at PSG has been far from an unmitigated success. He arrived at PSG in August 2021, joining a star-studded team that includes Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, with the hope of winning the club’s first Champions League title. Although PSG clinched their 11th Ligue 1 title last weekend, in March they were once again knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16. |
| In recent weeks, Messi has received abuse from some sections of PSG fans, and last month the club suspended him following an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia. Messi has a commercial contract with Saudi Arabia to promote tourism and has been linked with a lucrative move there at the end of the season. | In recent weeks, Messi has received abuse from some sections of PSG fans, and last month the club suspended him following an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia. Messi has a commercial contract with Saudi Arabia to promote tourism and has been linked with a lucrative move there at the end of the season. |
| There has also been talk of a return to Barcelona, where he spent the majority of his career and won 10 La Liga titles and the Champions League on four occasions. Messi has also been linked with a move to David Beckham’s MLS team, Inter Miami. | There has also been talk of a return to Barcelona, where he spent the majority of his career and won 10 La Liga titles and the Champions League on four occasions. Messi has also been linked with a move to David Beckham’s MLS team, Inter Miami. |
| Messi has scored 32 goals in 74 games in all competitions for PSG. | Messi has scored 32 goals in 74 games in all competitions for PSG. |