Paris Saint-Germain announces the departure of Lionel Messi – 03/06/2023 – Sport

Paris Saint-Germain made official this Saturday (3), through a statement, the departure of Argentine Lionel Messi from the club at the end of the season, after two years in the French capital.

Messi, who will turn 36 at the end of the month, played his last game for PSG this Saturday, at the Parc des Princes, against Clermont, in the last round of the French Championship. PSG lost 3-2.

“The club extends its warmest thanks to the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has also lifted a French Super Cup and two Ligue 1 titles,” PSG said in a statement.

Hired as a hero in 2021, Messi played 74 games for the Parisian team, scoring 32 goals and giving 35 assists. But the ace says goodbye without giving the club its greatest wish: the Champions League title.

“Paris Saint-Germain is proud to have had the best player of all time and wishes Leo much more success in the sequel of his career,” continues the statement.

The soap opera about Messi’s future went on for months, with several twists and turns. Initially, at the end of last year, shortly before the World Cup in Qatar, everything seemed to be heading towards a contract renewal, but club and player drifted apart over the course of the season.

Until the Argentine’s trip to Saudi Arabia, in early May, not authorized by PSG, sealed the divorce.

“His contribution to Paris Saint-Germain and Ligue 1 [o Campeonato Francês] cannot be underestimated and we wish Leo and his family the best for the future,” said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, quoted in the statement.

Homage to the goalkeeper

Before and during the game, PSG fans and players honored goalkeeper Sergio Rico. The Spaniard has been hospitalized in serious condition for a week in his country after suffering a fall from a horse.

The crowd displayed a huge photo of the player and the players warmed up with shirts with a photo of the goalkeeper and wore shirts with his name on the back in the first half.

The minute of silence scheduled for the 16th minute of the game also had the coincidence of being the moment when PSG scored their first goal, with the Spanish Sérgio Ramos, with a header.

Last Saturday (27), PSG drew with Strasbourg and won their 11th French Championship title. It is now the winningest team in the tournament, ahead of Saint-Étienne, with ten trophies.