Argentina Legend Mario Kempes Is Against Lionel Messi Returning To FC Barcelona
Argentina's 1978 World Cup winner Mario Kempes has spoken out against Lionel Messi possibly rejoining FC Barcelona this summer.
Messi's contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30, making him a free agent. If it were up to Kempes, who, like Messi last year, led the Albiceleste to victory in football's greatest international event in Qatar, his compatriot would stay in Paris and not consider a return to his first professional club.
"I don't think it's healthy for him to return to Barcelona," Kempes remarked to ESPN. "It would be better for him to stay in France so that he can arrive calmly at the next World Cup." He should stay. Barcelona's goals are different; they are currently rebuilding themselves after his departure. There are various issues."
Kempes, also known as 'The Matador' during his playing days, admitted that he was "being selfish and thinking about the Argentine national team" when he demanded that Messi stay where he is.
"For both his physical and mental peace of mind, he is more likely to arrive at the national team fresher in France than in Barcelona," Kempes asserted.
Kempes sought to blame Argentina's World Cup victory against France on Messi being whistled by certain sections of the Parc des Princes crowd since PSG's latest early exit from the Champions League.
"What happens is that he is playing in France, a country that played in the final against Argentina, which beat them, and Messi was a [leading] figure in that game."
"What happens is that it hurts them to see the best player in the world on their team and that he does not perform as well as he did in Qatar."
Messi arrived in Paris on a free transfer from FC Barcelona in 2021 and is expected to win back-to-back Ligue 1 titles given PSG's current eight-point lead at the top of the French league with six games remaining.
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