Lionel Messi opened up about his difficult start at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), describing it as a "very tough" period in an exclusive interview with beIN Sports on Sunday.
The Argentine superstar, who recently departed PSG and will now join Inter Miami in the MLS, expressed his disappointment over two successive failed Champions League campaigns, which he labelled as a "massive disappointment."
Messi's decision to join PSG in the summer of 2021, following an illustrious 17-year career at Barcelona, was influenced by his fondness for the club and the presence of friends in the dressing room. He believed that these factors would facilitate his adaptation process compared to other potential destinations.
However, the reality proved to be more challenging than he had anticipated, with the need to adjust to a new game plan, new teammates, and a new city.
1/10:Lionel Messi turns 36: A look at his career highlights
2/10:Messi turns a year older
<p>Argentina striker Lionel Messi, arguably one of the greatest ever to play the beautiful game, turned 36 on Saturday.<br /></p>Getty Images
3/10: A born footballer
<p>Messi made his presence felt early by his mazy dribbling skills and precocious talent during his time with his boyhood Argentinian club, Newell's OldBoys.<br /></p>Getty Images
4/10:Plethora of titles with Barcelona
<p>Messi went on to attain legendary stature while playing for Barcelona, the club with which he won 10 Spanish La Liga and 4 Champions League titles.<br /></p>Getty Images
5/10:A career defining moment
<p>However, the crowning moment of his illustrious footballing career came last year when he led Argentina to its third FIFA World Cup title in Qatar.<br /></p>AP
6/10:Messi's rise
<p>Ever since he broke into the national team, he took very little time in rising to the status of a talismanic striker.<br /><br /></p>Getty Images
7/10:An association to remember
<p>He went on to play for the Catalan giants for close to two decades, till 2021, making 520 appearances and scoring 474 goals for them.<br /></p>AP
8/10:La Liga titles
<p>With Barcelona, he won the La Liga, the top domestic football competition in Spain, in 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.<br /></p>Getty Images
9/10:Champions League titles
<p>He won four UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona in 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, and 2014-15 seasons.<br /></p>Getty Images
10/10:Trophies galore
<p>'La Pulga' also lifted 7 Copa Del Rey trophies with Barcelona in 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2020-21 seasons.<br /></p>Getty Images"I arrived late, I didn't have a pre-season. The start was difficult for me, my family," Messi admitted, shedding light on the struggles he faced during the early stages of his PSG tenure.
His late arrival was due to the completion of the Copa America, in which he led Argentina to victory. Shortly after, he contracted Covid-19 during the winter break in Argentina, which further hindered his integration into the team.
"It took me time to refind my physical form," Messi confessed, acknowledging the setbacks he experienced during his first season at PSG. The rigorous demands of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which Messi triumphantly won with the Argentine national team, also took a toll on his physical condition.
Furthermore, he noted that the World Cup had a broader impact, affecting the return of players to their respective clubs, with some delayed and others nursing injuries, including Neymar.
While Messi's individual performances yielded 11 goals in 34 games for PSG, his debut season was marred by disappointments in the Champions League. The team suffered defeats against Real Madrid in 2022 and Bayern Munich in the following season, leaving Messi and his teammates yearning for success on the European stage.
"In the beginning, it was great, I received a lot of encouragement... but later on, a part of the Parisian fanbase treated me differently. The majority treated me well, but there was a rupture with a part of the public," Messi confessed, reflecting on the mixed reception he received from PSG supporters. Despite initially receiving significant support, some sections of the fanbase turned on him, even resorting to whistling during matches.
(With inputs from AFP)
