Lionel Messi and PSG renewal: what his father’s meeting with the club manager left behind and what can happen

Saturday will be two months from the day when Lionel Messi completed the last level he needed to become undisputed the best footballer in history. At 35 and a half, perhaps on his last attempt after numerous disappointments, he was the locomotive of an overwhelming selection that was crowned world champion in Qatar 2022. And all, logically, was happiness. So much so that 72 hours later, while Messi himself was recovering from the celebrations in Rosario – and from a sunstroke – on board an open bus that could never reach the Obelisk to the overflowing joy of millions of Argentines, the news that began to spread was that Leo already had an agreement in principle to continue Paris Saint-Germain.

However, in these almost two months, things have happened. And voices began to fly through the air to the tune of the PSG football collapse. It is that Christophe Galtier’s team adds up in this 2023 five defeats in eleven appearancesplays worse and worse and accumulates three consecutive crashes which led to the elimination of the French Cup -at the hands of Olympique de Marseille- and being left on the ropes in the series against Bayern Munich, after a 0-1 draw in the Parc du Princes for the first leg of the round of 16 of Champions League.

And those things that have been going on these past 60 days have become small obstacles For now, they are delaying the negotiations and preventing that agreement in principle from becoming a definitive agreement for Messi to officially extend his stay in the French capital, where he arrived a year and a half ago after being expelledliterally from the leadership of FC Barcelona, ​​​​​​with the president Joan Laporta to the head.

The concrete thing is that this Wednesday, after remote or virtual meetings, there was a the first meeting between Jorge Messi and the authorities of Paris Saint Germainwith the Portuguese coach louis fields as the lead negotiator. It was a face-to-face, planned for some time, in which the first official talks were drawn up to deal with the renewal of the contract expiring on June 30th.

“The history between Lionel Messi and Paris Saint Germain is always written with an ellipsis”alerted the French sports newspaper in the last few hours The Teamwho also warned him “the extension of the contract appears increasingly problematic”.

As far as he could find out clarion, in the meeting there was no significant progress beyond everything he had talked about. However, contrary to what was published by L’Equipe and other French media – which never tire of punishing him excessively – this does not mean that positions have diverged or that differences or problems have arisen that are impossible to unblock. It was just one step to take, the first of many. Indeed, they agreed to continue talking. The next face-off will most likely take place after the second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League, played against Bayern Munich, in Germany.

After the conclave, Messi’s father flew to Barcelona. But the explanation is simple and has nothing to do with Leo’s possible return to the Blaugrana club. Is that in the Catalan city are located the main offices of the family business which manages, among other initiatives, the flea race. There is no chance, for now, that Leo will return to the club where he played most of his career.

Is that beyond some public and politically correct statements by some leaders, no one from Barcelona has called Messi since he bid a tearful goodbye at the Camp Nou on 8 August 2021. Proof of this were the explosive statements, for which hours later, Matías, one of Leo’s brothers, apologized for a week ago.

That’s why Messi’s plan A, B and C is for the time being to renew his contract with PSG. A lot has to do with family. After a period of adjustment, Leo has found a place in Paris where he is quiet together with Antonela, his wife and their children, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro. Each of the members of the inner circle enjoys their stay in the French capital in their own way and this is a harmony that no one intends to break.

On the other hand, beyond what is said about the “deteriorated locker room”, PSG is amazed by Messi’s positive influence on the squad. Has Pulga found, beyond Neymar – will he go to Chelsea? -, a group to which the majority of players belong. Campos himself, who arrived with the mission of disciplining the team, hinted in private conversations that the Argentine’s permanence, beyond his weight on the pitch, could serve to amalgamate a team full of heavy egos, with Kylian Mbappé as another great reference. The only problem is that the team is far from functioning as such. And the results are not the ones hoped for and the goals, indeed the goal – to win the Champions League – seems to be slipping away again.

AS? To follow or not to follow? PSG’s renewal offer is the only one he hears at the momentalthough the interest of the Inter Miami, the English-owned MLS team David Beckhamand the eternal longing for Newell’s Old Boys by Rosario, now managed by Gabriel Heinze, for getting him into the professional colors of the club where he started throwing his first magical passes. But these two options, at least these days, seem distant. In fact, Leo could be negotiating with other clubs, given that he is in the last six months of his contract. Because he’s not doing it.

What are you discussing with PSG then? Even if the numbers of the contract always weigh, in this case they are not the most important thing. The duration of the new bond -one or two seasons-, the football project of the team -including what could happen in this Champions League– and Rosario’s role in the team are the most important items to define. It is known that after his coronation in Lusail, Messi wants to continue playing in staggered, former world champion, and which needs to continue in strong demand to maintain its level of competitiveness. And that will be what will be discussed or put on the table in the next meeting between Jorge and Campos. This story will continue…