Lionel Messi's long-term Paris Saint Germain future looks to be in doubt, after a former PSG star warned the club not to hand the World Cup winner a new deal.
Messi has been with the club since the summer of 2021 after signing a two-year contract with the Parisians following his exit from cash-strapped Barcelona.
The 35-year-old helped his side to yet another Ligue 1 title in his first season with the club, whilst he has starred for club and country this season, as he chases a Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions League title to accompany the World Cup he picked up in December.
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However this season may prove his last opportunity to help his club to a first UCL triumph, with the Argentine out of contract with his employers at the end of the campaign.
Yet whilst PSG are understood to be keen to extend Messi's stay in the French capital, the feeling isn't unanimous across those associated with the club.
As reported by the Mirror via RMC Sports, former PSG winger Jerome Rothen believes that the club should steer clear of offering the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner a new deal, describing the extension as "bulls***" before claiming that he doesn't think that Messi "wants to prolong the adventure":
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""Messi's extension is bulls***, already in terms of numbers. Managing the three is complicated. Afterwards, there is the wage bill. And we saw that PSG is stuck with financial fair play. Because the wage bill has exploded,"
"There, you have the opportunity to recover a large sum of money because Messi's salary is It can allow you to recruit and improve your squad. For all that, it's a very bad idea to extend Leo Messi.
"In terms of image and what he reflects, I would not understand that Leo Messi wants to prolong the adventure. He makes no effort to put the club forward. He is not going to thank the fans, he lowers his head and goes to the locker room.
"Even on the celebration of his goals, his name is chanted, he never has a nice gesture towards the supporters to thank them. So he does not want to invest more in that. It's a false good idea."
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Messi has 14 goals and 14 assists to his name for PSG this season, only Mbappe (20 goals) has scored more, with no player offering more goal contributions in the competition.
Topics: Ligue 1, Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain, France, Football