Lionel Messi and PSG are set to part ways in the summer with the Argentine's deal due to expire, according to reports.
The World Cup winner moved to Paris last term when he became a free agent and had been keen to remain at the Parc des Princes for a third season. In the New Year discussions were ongoing over an extension, provided the player take a pay cut on his mammoth wages.
L'Equipe is now reporting however that the parties will 'divorce' come the end of the season with the Parisians potentially set for another rejig after failing to claim the Champions League they crave so badly. Messi's signing was supposed to push them closer, but their star-studded line-up has struggled to gel effectively.
Christophe Galtier arrived in the summer having previously won Ligue 1 with Lille, but has been unable to have the desired affect and they've already lost eight times this year. The current boss is expected to leave come the summer - at which point Messi could follow him.
PSG's last outing saw them lose in front of their own fans once again as Lyon secured a 1-0 victory. The supporters have questioned Messi's desire, given he never wanted to leave Barcelona, and jeered him during their latest defeat.
Thierry Henry lamented their actions amid talk of a return to the Nou Camp and urged Messi to quit the club and head back to Catalunya. He told Amazon Prime: “It’s embarrassing to hear whistles from the Parc. You can’t whistle one of the best players on the team, who has 13 goals and 13 assists this season.
"Personally, I would like to see him finish his career at Barcelona, in Europe. After that, I don’t know what he will do. Because the way he left Barcelona after everything he did… I didn’t really like it. For the love of football, he should go back to Barcelona."
Those thoughts were echoed by compatriot Emmanuel Petit, who claimed: ”The whistles at Messi are an insult to football. Get out of that club now, Leo. It’s not a football club, but a pre-retirement club, even if you’re 20 years old. No player has ever progressed at PSG, that’s not Messi’s fault.”
Barcelona's vice-president Rafa Yuste confirmed last week that the club were in contact over a potential return this summer. "I think Leo is also in love with Barca and the city of Barcelona. I think fate will make it possible. Let's see if we can have Leo back in Barcelona," he said.
