Lionel Messi gets sly dig from PSG owner for his attitude before Inter Miami move
Lionel Messi spent two years at Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Inter Miami in 2023, and the club president has hinted that the Argentine lacked the same effort as the current team
Paris Saint-Germain's president Nasser Al-Khelaifi took a thinly-veiled swipe at Lionel Messi as the team celebrated their advancement to the Champions League final. Messi had a two-year stint in France before joining Inter Miami in 2023.
Messi's surprising transfer from Barcelona to PSG was intended to secure the club's first-ever Champions League trophy. The Argentine superstar formed part of an impressive attacking trio, alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
However, despite their formidable attack and a squad filled with high-profile names, PSG were eliminated in the round of 16 stage of the Champions League twice during Messi's tenure. Since then, PSG has shifted away from its Galactico-style strategy, and Al-Khelafi has commended the current squad's work ethic, seemingly taking a jab at Messi and his former teammates' attitudes at PSG.
"We have players who leave everything for the jersey, for the city, for the club," Al-Khelaifi stated, as reported by TNT Sports. "Today, they were all ready to die on the pitch. There was a time when we had to change."
The French champions initially had a rocky start during the Champions League group phase, but have demonstrated their true talent in the knockout stages. Victories over Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal in consecutive rounds have brought Luis Enrique's team into the limelight, setting them up for a showdown against Inter Milan.
"They were tough, difficult games, but we always trusted our players and our coach," Al-Khelaifi said. "At no time did we think about changing coach, even if we were out there (in the first round) or with Liverpool, we wouldn't have changed anything, but to have reached the final is incredible. It's a great feeling to be in the final after a long, hard season."
PSG has undergone a significant transformation, focusing on moving past Messi's era and creating a new attacking force with Ousmane Dembele, rising stars Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola, and January acquisition Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. On the flip side, Argentina's World Cup hero is relishing his time in Miami, having initially been hesitant to swap Barcelona for PSG back in 2021.
After joining Miami, Messi shared with ESPN: "This is what I was looking for when we made the decision with my family. To enjoy it once more, as I've done my whole career, after two difficult years, the truth is we had it rough.
"But as luck would have it, we're in a place where we're happy not just because of the results on the pitch but because of the everyday life with my wife, my kids, our lifestyle and the way we spend our time. Truth is, we're enjoying this moment very much."
In response, Al-Khelaifi accused Messi of showing disrespect towards his former club. "We talk when we are there, not when we are gone," the PSG president told RMC Sport.
"I have great respect for him [Messi] but if someone wants to talk badly about Paris Saint-Germain after [his departure], it's not good. That's not respect [...] He's not a bad guy, but I don't like that. It's not just for him, but for everyone."
PSG is set to face Inter in the Champions League final later this month, following the Italian team's thrilling semi-final victory over Barcelona. Al-Khelaifi has expressed his anticipation for the match against Inter, especially since their previous final against Bayern Munich was held without spectators.
Following PSG's triumph over Arsenal, Al-Khelaifi confessed: "I'm very proud. It's magnificent. The players, the coach, the staff, the fans... Everyone has created the great history of Paris Saint-Germain today.
"We're going to play in our second final, this time with the fans, so it's different from 2020. I can't explain how I feel. We're very happy and proud of this moment because it wasn't easy. The start of the Champions League season was very difficult, but today we're here."