Paris Saint-Germain’s head coach Christophe Galtier confirmed on Thursday that star forward Lionel Messi will leave Ligue 1 champions at the end of the season. Messi will depart as a free agent, considering his contract comes to an end in the summer.
Galtier revealed the news ahead of PSG’s final Ligue 1 match in 2022-23, which they play at home against Clermont.
“I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football,” Galtier told the reporters. “This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes.”
Messi joined PSG as a free agent in the summer of 2021. He played 74 games in two seasons with the club, scoring 32 goals and adding 35 assists. The Paris club won the domestic title in both of those seasons but failed to make a splash in UEFA Champions League, which was the primary reason the French club brought him in.
It was previously believed that Messi would extend his contract with PSG as the two sides had the framework of the deal ready before the 2022 World Cup. The talks cooled down following the resume of the club season as Messi’s form dipped, and PSG wanted him to take a pay cut.
There are various speculation about Lionel Messi’s next move, with a return to Barcelona being proposed. He also reportedly has an offer from Saudi Arabia club Al Hilal that would pay him $375 million a year.
