At 35, Lionel Messi is still garnering immense interest from both his current employers Paris Saint-Germain and former ones FC Barcelona. The Parisians acquired the Argentine legend last summer after the Catalan club was unable to register him due to their dire financial conditions. What was more shocking was PSG landed Messi for free, unlike Neymar for whom they had to pay Barca €222 million back in 2017.
After an underwhelming debut season in Paris, which saw Messi contribute only 11 goals and 15 assists in 34 games, he has picked up pace this new campaign. The playmaker has already collected 3 goals and 7 assists in just 8 games so far. As a result, PSG are keen on triggering the option of extending his current deal which expires next summer.
Barcelona to rival PSG for Lionel Messi in the summer of 2023
According to transfer journalist Ekrem Konur, PSG are working on extending Lionel Messi’s stay in Paris beyond the summer of 2023. The club hierarchy, especially owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi is impressed with the ‘La Pulga’ returning to his best and wants to reward him with a new contract. The 35-year-old too seems happy at Parc des Princes, in the company of his close friend Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
The Parisians dream of winning the UEFA Champions League, a first in the club’s history with the help of Leo who is desperate to lift the trophy with big ears since 2015. Moreover, PSG want to avoid the risk of losing two of their stars next summer in Messi and Mbappe. Al-Khelaifi somehow managed to keep Mbappe this summer after Real Madrid came calling, tying the 23-year-old to a new three-year deal on lucrative wages.
However, they are still unsure whether or not the France international will stay with them next summer if Real reapproach him. The Ligue 1 champions hence want to keep hold of Lionel Messi after his contract expires in 2023. On the other hand, Konur says Barcelona too are in the race to bring their legend back to Camp Nou next year.
The Catalans, now spearheaded by president Joan Laporta and manager Xavi Hernandez are already at work to carve out a plan for re-signing Messi from PSG. Multiple reports have confirmed that Laporta is readying finances to facilitate the Argentine’s incoming and has even approached his father, who also is his agent for a potential move. Though both the parties consider it a difficult operation, they haven’t ruled it out completely.
?PSG want to extend Lionel Messi's contract. ??
? Barcelona are interested in signing Messi.
⚠️ Two clubs from the Saudi Arabian Pro League are monitoring the situation of the Argentine star. pic.twitter.com/EXoScXV6Ki
— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) September 14, 2022
Moreover, Konur has revealed that two Saudi Arabian clubs are interested in bringing Messi to the middle-east nation. While their names have been undisclosed, Konur says both are monitoring the current situation of the Argentina captain in France. But given Messi’s form at the moment it is highly unlikely that he leaves Europe and tries a challenge in Saudi Arabia.
However, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Messi has no plans of making a decision on his future before the FIFA World Cup which is slated to kick-off in November in Qatar. The seven-time Ballon d’Or is determined to lead his beloved country to glory in what could be his last even appearance at the world tournament. Romano updated:
“Leo Messi will not make any decision on his future in the next weeks or months. Focused on Paris Saint-Germain and then World Cup, nothing will be decided or planned before the World Cup. Despite PSG new deal plans and Barca interest, Leo will not proceed before 2023.”