President Nasser Al Khelaifi criticized Lionel Messi when the Argentine superstar revealed he was unhappy when playing for PSG.

“It wasn’t easy for him when there were Mbappe and Neymar here at that time,” Mr. Al Khelaifi said about Messi on RMC Sport on January 9. “I respect Messi very much, but speaking ill of PSG after leaving is not good. He doesn’t respect his old club. He’s not a bad person, but I don’t like that. Not just Messi, everyone else.” I don’t like behaving like that.”

Messi (left) walks next to President Al Khelaifi when he launches his new club in August 2021 in Paris. Photo: AFP

Messi arrived at PSG in August 2021 after Barca refused to extend his contract. He played football for the French champions for two years before moving to Inter Miami in the summer of 2023. Not long after leaving PSG, Messi told the media that he spent two unhappy years at his old club and was redundant. There was a rift with the fans.

During Messi’s last days at PSG, president Al Khelaifi once said he was honored to witness the owner of seven Golden Balls playing at Parc des Princes and inspiring young players. In total, Messi scored 32 and assisted 35 goals in 75 matches in all competitions for PSG in two seasons, winning two Ligue 1 and one French Super Cup. While on the PSG staff, Messi won the greatest glory of his career when he and Argentina won the 2022 World Cup.

The relationship between Messi and PSG began to deteriorate at the beginning of 2023. After losing in the eighth round of the Champions League for the second consecutive time, some fans criticized Messi. In the final matches of the season, crazy fans continuously booed him. The relationship between the parties was also tense after Messi went to Saudi Arabia to promote tourism in early May 2023. Messi planned this in advance, but PSG forced the players to practice right after the loss to Lorient in Ligue I. The 2022 World Cup champion posted an apology video after the trip, saying it was postponed once and he could not do it. other.

In an interview with RMC Sport, president Al Khelaifi said he still has a good relationship with Kylian Mbappe, the superstar rumored to be moving to Real next season. He said that he had reached a separate agreement with Mbappe.

“I don’t want to mention money because it is a ‘gentleman’ agreement. He is young and wants to win many titles; hopefully he wants to do it with PSG,” Mr. Al Khelaifi said about Mbappe. “I believe Mbappe will never hurt this club. He is a member of the PSG family, and I want to protect him like other players. He is the best in the world and is at the heart of our project”.