Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has apparently enraged Paris Saint-Germain fans with news of his likely departure from the French club. The PSG ultras have been seen chanting ‘Messi, hijo de p*ta’ [son of a b****] outside the club’s headquarters, as the 35-year-old’s time in France appears to be coming to an end.

The Argentine World Cup winner is on the verge of winning his second Ligue 1 title with Les Parisiens, but he has been suspended and punished by the club for travelling to Saudi Arabia without the approval of manager Christophe Galtier. A summer exit appears to be all but completed, while his final destination remains uncertain.

Lionel Messi
It’s the end of the road for Lionel Messi at PSG as he stares at summer exit. Credits: Twitter

PSG ultras target Neymar, Verratti alongside Lionel Messi

Only a day after PSG suspended Lionel Messi for an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia, reports surfaced that the Argentine was set to leave the club at the end of the season. The announcement and controversy did not go down well with PSG fans, who protested in large numbers at the club’s headquarters.

Footage shows throngs of fans yelling ‘Messi, les files de pute,’ which translates to ‘Messi, son of a b***h.’ The Ligue 1 winners’ ultras have frequently clashed with their summer acquisition from 2021 during his two-year stay in Paris. Despite being one of the most popular players in the world, PSG fans have never completely acknowledged him as one of their own.

Messi’s unapproved vacation to Saudi Arabia appears to have entirely shattered the player-club connection, with a summer departure predicted. According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Jorge Messi has ‘communicated the decision’ to PSG. Romano adds Al Hilal has submitted an official bid of £350 million per-year for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

If approved, Lionel Messi will become the world’s highest-paid athlete by a wide margin, surpassing his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo. While, the Parisians and their relationship with Messi have had a turbulent few days, the former Barca star is not the only member of the club’ star-studded squad who could leave in the summer.

Neymar has been linked with a move away as well, and the Brazilian admitted that supporters have visited his residence in France. ‘They’ve just left my door,’ Neymar wrote of the supporters on social media. The Brazil international has not appeared for PSG since February, when he was injured in a 4-3 win against Lille.

Mirror Football revealed that Neymar’s future, as well as that of France star Kylian Mbappe, is set to be scrutinised as president Nasser Al-Khelaifi oversees a shift in strategy. This comes on top of the club no longer prioritising a new contract for Messi, who is out of contract this summer, with fans expressing their displeasure.

The Les Parisiens appear to be prioritising young players and French talents over veteran big-name professionals. This means that, despite claims of Premier League interest, Mbappe is unlikely to go, while Neymar, 31, might be on the move. Furthermore, chants against club’s veteran midfielder Marco Verratti were also raised, since the Italian has truly failed to shift gears throughout the season.

With speculations of a record-breaking contract in Saudi Arabia, Lionel Messi will have a variety of options. Former club Barcelona, on the other hand, have made their intentions clear, with vice-president Rafa Yuste outlining the club’s stance on a possible comeback. Nonetheless, PSG are staring at a flurry of outgoings in the summer, with the likes of Messi, Neymar, Verratti and even Sergio Ramos and Presnel Kimbempe facing uncertain futures.