Lionel Messi opens up about ‘difficult’ PSG stint, ‘fracture’ with fans

Soccer

By Belle Fraser

June 25, 2023 | 5:25pm

Now cruising off to South Beach, Lionel Messi admitted he had a “difficult adaptation” to France and its fans when joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

“Despite having people I knew in the locker room and having a relationship with them, it was difficult to adapt to the new change, arriving late and not having a pre-season,” Messi said in an interview with beIN Sports, according to CNN. 

The soccer legend, who just joined MLS club Inter Miami, moved to PSG after 17 seasons with Barcelona. 

While Messi, 36, won two league titles with PSG, his real legacy is with FCB.

The Argentine forward is Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer with 672 goals and won seven Ballon d’Or titles with the squad. 

Barcelona cited “financial and structural obstacles” as the reason the team wasn’t able to bring Messi back in 2021 before he departed for PSG.

Things didn’t end well with the French club, though. 

Messi was suspended for two weeks in May due to an “unauthorized” trip he took to Saudi Arabia, reportedly for promotional purposes, and missed a Monday training session. 

This may have added to the disconnect between Messi and the PSG fanbase. 

“People started treating me differently, a part of the public of Paris,” Messi said. “I think the vast majority continue to see me and treat me as at the beginning but there was a disconnect with a large part of the Paris fans, which obviously was not my intention, far from it.”

Messi will now put the past behind him as he opens a new chapter across the pond with Inter Miami.

MLS’ newest star is set to make his debut on July 21 on Miami’s home turf.