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| Lionel Messi answers journalists with President Nasser Al Khelaifi during a conference of Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes on August 11, 2021 in Paris, France. |
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has claimed that a decision on the future of Lionel Messi will not be made before the New Year, amid links to Barcelona and Inter Miami.
Messi joined PSG last year and has become a talismanic figure for the Ligue 1 champions despite a slow start to life in France. The 35-year-old has been in scintillating form this season, bagging 12 goals and 14 assists from 19 matches in all competitions.
The veteran superstar is currently tearing it up at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, bagging five goals and three assists to help Argentina progress to the finals, where they will face champions France later today.
While the entire world with bated breath to see whether Messi can lift the one trophy that has eluded him, there is the matter of his future that is also brewing in the background.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is in the final year of his contract with PSG. It has given way to speculation that a return to Barcelona could be on the cards, with manager Xavi Hernandez believed to be pushing for a reunion with his former teammate.
At the same time, there have been links to MLS outfit Inter Miami as well, while the possibility of an extension with PSG is very much on the table as well.
In fact, Les Parisiens’ president Al-Khelaifi recently claimed that he believes Messi wants to remain at the club beyond the ongoing season.
In a fresh interview with Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Fabrizio Romano), Al-Khelaifi has insisted that a decision on the 35-year-old icon’s future will not be made before the New Year.
However, he claimed that both the club and the player are very happy with how things have been going, hinting that an extension could be on the cards.
“No decision will be made on Leo Messi’s contract before the new year. We are very happy and Leo’s very happy with us too. We will find the best solution together with Messi, we’re so happy and this is fantastic,” Al-Khelaifi said.
Fabrizio Romano recently reported that PSG will table a contract offer for Messi in the coming weeks, while also adding that there has been no agreement with Inter Miami.
As for the possibility of a return to Barcelona is concerned, such a scenario looks unlikely to come to fruition as the Catalans continue to be mired in Financial Fair Play problems and might be unable to afford Messi’s salary as things stand.
