Nasser Al-Khelaifi is obsessed with keeping Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain for next season. Messi has received overtures from FC Barcelona and Inter Miami.
PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi is like Midas. He is obsessed with having plenty of gold. PSG has some of the top players in the world, but for Al-Khelaifi, it is not enough. He believes with all the top players at PSG, they could dominate the world, but the only domination they have been able to do is the lowly-rated Ligue 1.
With players like Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar all on the payroll of the Qatari-owned club, they are always favourites to win tournaments. One trophy has consistently eluded them – the UEFA Champions League. Perhaps Al-Khelaifi believes that a massive collection of shiny things would deliver the trophy.
The contractual status of Lionel Messi has been a worry to Al-Khelaifi, with the PSG chief always talking about the Argentine superstar. Perhaps he believes that talking about him would convince Messi to remain in the French capital.
The Argentine is in the final six months of his PSG contract amid rumours of a return to Barcelona or signing a contract with Inter Miami in the MLS.
Al-Khelaifi confident of retaining Messi at the Parc des Princes
Amid troubling rumours of a likely Messi exit from PSG, the club president is belligerent about the news. He has come out to douse any insinuations that the Argentine intends to leave the club next summer. Al-Khelaifi insists that he believes Messi is happy at the club and wants to remain at the Parc des Princes.
Al-Khelaifi spoke on the eve of the World Cup final, saying that Messi will remain at the club beyond this summer. According to the PSG president, Messi is happy at the club. He told RMC Sport that he thinks Messi wants to stay and the discussions would take place after the World Cup.
Al-Khelaifi is impressed with the performance of the Argentine this season and sees every reason to keep hold of him beyond this summer. He praised the performance of the Argentine, saying he scored lots of goals and assists for PSG and the national team. He continued that the club and Messi agreed that discussions would occur after the World Cup.
The options for Lionel Messi
Despite the brave posture and grandstanding of PSG president Al-Khelaifi, it is hard to hide the fact they are worried about the high possibility of Messi leaving the club in the summer. The 35-year-old is approaching the end of his harness and would want to retire on a high note.
The Argentine superstar is in the final legs of his PSG contract. The two-year contract signed with PSG is about to expire amid rumours and links to other clubs. Barcelona top the list of clubs the maestro is likely to land. Los Blaugrana has not hidden their desire to see Lionel Messi return to the Nou Camp.
One of the reasons Barcelona want to bring Messi back is nostalgia. Reports last month suggested he was close to joining David Beckham’s Inter Miami.
