Lionel Messi could sensationally quit Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season if they don't win the Champions League, suggests former Barcelona midfielder Lobo Carrasco.
Messi is six months in to his two-year deal with PSG but the Argentine hasn't quite settled into his new surroundings and is said to be unhappy with life in the French capital.
While the 34-year-old was able to scoop an unprecedented seventh Ballon d'Or trophy back in November, things have quite clicked on the pitch and he has struggled to adapt to Ligue 1 football.
After being forced to leave Barcelona due to the club's financial crisis, Messi signed with PSG under the pretence that they would be challenging for the Champions League, with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar competing a dream frontline.
Messi has won the Champions League on four separate occasions with Barcelona and is now targeting a fifth this season.
But Carrasco has claimed that if PSG are unable to conquer Europe this season, then Messi could be ready to quit the club this summer.
Carrasco explained on El Chiringuito TV programme: 'Messi will always miss the "modus vivendi" he had in Barcelona.
‘If he succeeds, which means winning the Champions League, he could extend his stay for another year.
'If PSG don't win the Champions League then this year is going to be a long one.
'I don't think he regrets his decision in a sporting sense, but on a personal level he realised (he made a mistake).'
While things haven't been going his way on the pitch in Paris, it appears things have been boiling over off it, too.
Messi has been accused of 'disrespecting' his manager Mauricio Pochettino over updates on his Covid status.
Reports in France in recent days stated that Pochettino only discovered his star man's positive test through third parties.
Reflecting on the reports of Pochettino not being updated by Messi while the player had to isolate back in his native Argentina, former PSG winger Jerome Rothen believes it is a slap in the face to the manager.
Rothen, who played 180 times for the French giants between 2004 and 2009, told Radio Montecarlo: 'You must always respect your coach, this is what I was taught in Clairefontaine.
'The coach must be above everyone else, it does not matter if it is a star or a youth player – the boss must be the head of the time.
'Pochettino was not updated as to where Messi was, and that explains a lot of things. This is not a good thing and I think it is very shocking from Messi.'
Messi, 34, made the most of French football's winter break with his wife, Antonela, and was filmed enjoying himself at a concert in Rosario, Sante Fe.
It is not known whether Messi caught the virus at the concert, but the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner nevertheless missed their 4-0 win away to third-tier club Vannes on Monday in a French Cup round-of-32 match.
He has since returned to Paris after isolating and recovering and is said to be targeting a return to PSG's team for this weekend’s Ligue 1 clash against Lyon. But even with Messi back in the fold, Rothen has been left bemused by the whole episode.
'Pochettino is being disrespected by Lionel Messi,' the ex-PSG winger added.
‘The coach must be the strong man, the one who shows the real values. The only one who strongly respects him, in my opinion, is Kylian Mbappe and I do not sense anything with the other players.
'If you don't respect your coach then you cannot be successful. PSG has suffered a lot from this in recent years.'
Messi has scored six goals in 16 games in all competitions for the Parisian side and will be looking to kick on in 2022.
Pochettino's team are top of the Ligue 1 standings on 46 points after 19 matches, 13 points above second-placed Nice.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0