Messi Rues Two-year Spell at PSG

Lionel Messi says he “didn’t enjoy” playing for Paris St-Germain during his two-year spell at the club.

The 37-year-old joined the French side in 2021 after 21 years at Barcelona.

Messi scored 32 goals and provided 35 assists in 76 appearances before leaving two years ago for Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, in Major League Soccer.

In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said: “Coming to play for Inter Miami was an opportunity and the way things developed during my last years in Paris, although it was a decision that I had to make on the go, because I had to leave from Barcelona, I went through two years which I didn’t enjoy.

“I wasn’t happy on a daily basis, with the training, the matches. I had a hard time adapting to all that. I felt called to come to Inter [Miami] because it’s a club that’s growing, very new, with few years as a club.”

PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi criticised Messi, external for lacking “respect” for the French club when he left them.

At the time, the Argentine said his relationship with PSG fans “fractured” after a “significant” number of supporters started to treat him differently.

Since joining Inter Miami, Messi has wanted to help both the club and MLS continue to “grow”, contributing 36 goals and 20 assists in 42 appearances.