After his departure from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami last summer, Lionel Messi was criticized by Nasser Al-Khelaïfi in an interview on RMC Sport this Tuesday.
It must be said that this follows statements made by the Argentine forward a few months ago. Since his arrival at Inter Miami, Lionel Messi seems to have experienced a resurgence of form both on the field and in press conferences.
The declarations that irritated Nasser Al-Khelaïfi
“La Pulga” had shared his new life in Florida with journalists on Thursday, August 17. He thus revisited his time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in an unexpected manner, as he is generally not inclined to controversy.
“As I said at the time, my time at PSG was not something I wished for,” asserted the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner. “I didn’t want to leave Barcelona, and it happened overnight,” he declared. The captain of the Argentine national team then spoke about the discomfort he felt on the banks of the Seine and the difficulty for him and his family to adapt to a new environment after spending most of their lives in Catalonia.
Shortly after terminating his contract with the Parisian club, Messi admitted in an interview with Mundo Deportivo on June 7, 2023, that he “did not feel happy” in the capital. “I had to adapt to a place totally different from where I had lived all my life, both in terms of the city and in sports. And it was difficult, it’s the opposite of what’s happening to me here right now,” he reiterated. “Today, I can tell you that I am very happy with the decision I made,” he rejoiced.
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi sets Lionel Messi straight
These statements caused surprise and even consternation on social media. A few months after his departure and after these words, Lionel Messi resurfaces at Paris Saint-Germain. This time, it is not because of his controversial comments about the capital club, but rather due to the statements of the club president, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. In an interview with RMC Sport, he addressed the matter.
“I have great respect for him, but if someone wants to criticize Paris Saint-Germain after leaving the club, it’s not right. It’s not a question of respect. (…) He’s not a bad boy, but I don’t like it. I’ll say, it’s not just for him, it’s for everyone. We talk when we are here, not when we are gone. That’s not how we do things,” he declared on the show “Rothen s’enflamme.”
Several times, Lionel Messi had expressed his discomfort at Paris Saint-Germain after leaving FC Barcelona. Appearing 75 times in the Parisian jersey, Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in the MLS on July 15.
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi admits mismanagement under the Qatari era
The failure of Lionel Messi’s stint is also one more since the arrival of the Qataris at PSG. When asked about past mistakes, the Parisian president readily acknowledges them.
“Maybe it was a mistake to say that we wanted to win the Champions League. Football is not easy. It’s difficult. We want to build a team that plays good football, that plays offensive, with players who respect the jersey and are proud to play for Paris Saint-Germain,” he said on the show “Rothen s’enflamme.”
Before commenting on the Joshua Kimmich track: “I don’t want to talk about names. I have very good relations with Bayern. The transfer market is difficult, especially in winter. We look at every player who can bring something extra to the team. We don’t need a star; the star today is Paris Saint-Germain. We need players who respect and give their all for the jersey.”
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