Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Galtier was critical of the club’s fans after Lionel Messi was booed during Sunday’s Ligue 1 defeat against Lyon.
Messi joined PSG on a two-year contract in the summer of 2021 – with his deal up for renewal in June and talks currently stalled. After a difficult debut campaign in Paris, he has netted 18 goals and provided 19 assists this season and has spoken of his happiness at adapting to life in France this term.
However, his future at PSG looks more uncertain than ever. Alongside Sergio Ramos, his contract talks have been put on hold by the Ligue 1 giants amid the threat of Champions League sanctions due to the club’s breach of Financial Fair Play regulations over wages – with neither player countenancing a wage reduction.
The mood of the club’s fans appears to have turned against the Argentine superstar as his name was loudly jeered by home supporters ahead of kick-off and dissent could be heard from the stands when he touched the ball. The mood was not improved by PSG limping to a one-goal home loss.
PSG boss Galtier was critical of the whistles after the game, saying in his post-match press conference: "It seems to me, and this is very personal, that the whistles are very harsh. Because Leo is a player who gives a lot to us.
"He gave a lot in the first part of the season and has assisted a lot and scored in 2023, but those figures also correspond to the other players, to his teammates, to have a little more of an attacking threat to bring more danger to the opposition’s goal."
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A journalist in the post-match press conference then asserted that Messi had ‘ghosted’ through the game, to which Galtier responded: "Ghosted? I don't share your opinion. When a situation has to be turned around, Leo is capable of delivering the decisive pass or score with a stroke of genius.
"I never thought of taking him off the pitch. Leo tried, he was successful in some things and in some situations."
On Friday, Barcelona transfer chiefs confirmed contact had been made with Messi regarding a potential return to the Camp Nou. There is also an offer on the table for the Argentine superstar from Saudi Arabia.
Messi’s father, Jorge, travelled to the Saudi capital earlier this month and while it has been claimed that this journey was for commercial reasons – the player is an ambassador for the nation’s tourist board – this trip could also have encompassed transfer talks.
