Lionel Messi has revealed that he was “unhappy on a daily basis” during his two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain but has now found happiness both on and off the pitch since moving to Inter Miami.
The 37-year-old, who is widely regarded as the greatest footballer of a generation, made the switch to Major League Soccer in July 2023 after a turbulent period in the French capital.
Messi’s time at PSG, despite yielding two Ligue 1 titles, was marred by tension with the club’s hierarchy and sections of the fanbase.
His arrival in Paris in 2021 was met with great expectations following his emotional departure from Barcelona, yet he often appeared unsettled in a system that struggled to maximise his brilliance.
While his statistics remained impressive, scoring key goals and contributing crucial assists, there was a growing sense that the Argentine maestro never fully adapted to life in France.
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Now at Inter Miami, a club co-owned by David Beckham, Messi appears rejuvenated.
His arrival has not only elevated the standard of play in MLS but also drawn global attention to the league. Alongside former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Messi has led Miami to silverware, guiding them to their first-ever Leagues Cup triumph in 2023.
Speaking on The Zane Lowe Show, 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 liked the idea of coming and help the club to become a greater club and I also knew it was a city that my family and I would enjoy.
“Although I didn’t know it so well because I had come only a few times, I knew about it, because I have family and friends that visited and visit this city, and I thought it was the right time, and I don’t regret it, quite the opposite.”
