Argentina captain, Lionel Messi will play his final game for Paris St-Germain (PSG) against Clermont tomorrow (Saturday), coach Christophe Galtier has confirmed.
Recall that sometime in May that the 35-year-old Argentina forward would leave when his contract ends this summer.
Messi, who joined on a free transfer from Barcelona in July 2021, helped PSG win two successive Ligue 1 titles.
‘I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football,’ said Galtier.
‘This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes.’
PSG increased security at the homes of Messi, forward Neymar, midfielder Marco Verratti and Galtier last month following protest from fans.
It followed a defeat by Lorient and Messi being suspended for two weeks after travelling to Saudi Arabia without PSG’s permission. He later apologised to his team-mates.
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Messi captained Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup and, following his return from the tournament, appeared set to stay at PSG.
The two parties reached an agreement in principle to extend his stay by a year before changing their minds.
Africa Today News, New York reports that Messi scored 21 goals and 20 assists for PSG in all competitions this season. Hegrabbed 32 goals in 74 matches for the club overall.
PSG have been knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage in the past two seasons.
Spanish football writer Guillem Balague said Messi is set to make a decision on his future soon but will not return to Barcelona, the club where he spent 21 years.
With Messi’s time at Paris Saint-Germain now up, the Argentine forward will soon reveal his future but hopes of a romantic return to Barcelona are fading.
Messi, who turns 36 in June, is Barcelona’s all-time record goalscorer and biggest icon and was forced to wave a tearful goodbye in 2021 at the end of his contract, with the club unable to afford to keep him.
Coach Xavi Hernandez has been pushing hard for the World Cup winner to come back, but Messi’s camp has told Spanish media no offer from Barcelona has arrived yet.