France’s Nantes manager has come out to cash in on Messi for his conflict with PSG: ‘We don’t deserve it’

The link between Lionel Messi AND Parisian saint–German seems to go through its final weeks inexorably. The fine that the club imposed on him this week for his trip to Saudi Arabia and the insults of a group of fans, who called him a “son of a bitch” in correct Spanish during a rally outside the club’s headquarters on Wednesday, marked two further pushes towards the rupture. However, not everyone in France welcomes the departure of the Argentina national team captain. One of those who strongly supported him was Antoine Kombouaré, a former PSG player and former coach.

With the theme installed in any French football discussion field, Kombouarewho directs nantes, was asked about Rosario’s situation during the press conference preceding the match that his team will play on Sunday against Racing de Strasbourg for the 34th round of Ligue 1. Initially, with verbal dribbles, he tried to avoid an answer. But finally he freed his tongue. And he did not resort to sentences of commitment.

“It bothers me what is happening. I’ve always said: Messi shouldn’t be touched, whatever he does. I am passionate, I love as a player. When I hear the boys say they don’t run on the pitch, I don’t give a shit”, said the former defender, who wore the Parisian team’s shirt for almost six years in two cycles (between 1990 and 1995, and between 1998 and 1999).

“If I had Messi, I would tell him to stay in front, never defend. I’d like to see him have fun and shine. It is my opinion, that of a passionate person. I’m not interested in PSG’s problems, but don’t touch Messi,” asked Kombouaré, who took his first steps as coach of the French capital’s B team between 1999 and 2003, immediately after retiring. Six years later, he pointed out the core group, which he led until December 2011.

Kombouaré knows the internal life of the club in detail and was the coach who experienced the transition from the old to the new PSG: he was on the bench when the Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) assumed control of the institute at the end of May 2011, after purchasing 70% of the share package from the Colony Capital fund (it acquired the remaining 30% in 2012). The DT was sacked by the Qatari administration after the Ligue 1 coaching Javier Pastore was eliminated from the Europa League and Coupe de France at the end of 2011.

“What will happen with Messi is PSG’s problem. I know it will go away and that makes me happy because we don’t deserve it. I’m in love with Messi and I’d pay to see him play. Don’t touch it! Thank you Messi!” the passionate 59-year-old coach was dispatched at the end of his press conference.

Despite Kombouaré’s praise and pleas, Messi’s stay in France is only weeks away, as his contract expires on 30 June and will not be renewed. Leo’s fate is still unknown. The return to Barcelona is a real possibility, even if for this the Catalan club will have to balance its budget to adapt to the financial regulation of the Spanish League.

In the last few hours, and with the acceleration of the deterioration of the bond with PSG, other options have appeared on the table. A very powerful one, based on the figures quoted, is that of the Saudi Al-Hilal, who would offer him a contract worth 600 million dollars a season. There is also interest from Inter Miami of American Major League Soccer. And on Thursday some European media slipped that an Italian club would also make a bid for the Rosario star. For now, nothing concrete.