Messi to play last game for PSG tomorrow

Coach hopes fans will give him cordial reception

June 02, 2023 00:00:00

Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi looking on during a training session at club's training ground in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, west of Paris on Thursday, two days prior to the L1 football match against Clermont — AFP

PARIS, June 01 (AFP): Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier said on Thursday he hopes fans will give Lionel Messi a cordial reception in his final game at their Parc des Princes home.

The game on Saturday against Clermont will mark the end of Messi's two-year stay at Qatar-backed PSG, who have already been crowned Ligue 1 champions for a record 11th time.

The Argentinian World Cup winner has been booed by the club's supporters on more than one occasion following PSG's elimination from the Champions League by Bayern Munich in the last 16.

"(It) will be his last game at the Parc des Princes and I dare hope he will get the best possible welcome," Galtier said at a press conference.

"He has been important, always available."

Galtier said he "never found" the criticism of 35-year-old Messi justified, pointing to his statistics at PSG this season of 21 goals and 20 assists.

"He has always been at the service of the team, as the passer and finisher," Galtier said.

"I have had the privilege to coach the best player in the history of football. It has been a great privilege."

Last month, French media reported that Messi was suspended for two weeks after an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia when he was supposed to train with his team following their 3-1 defeat at home to Lorient in the league.

"This year, he has been an important part of the team, always available. I don't think any of the comments or criticisms are justified," Galtier said.

One possible destination is Saudi Arabia, where he would join his former Real Madrid sparring partner Cristiano Ronaldo in a deal potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

A source close to the negotiations told AFP in May that the forward had an agreement to move to the Saudi Arabian league, without specifying which club he would join.

He has also been linked in the media with a move back to boyhood club Barcelona, with the United States' Major League Soccer club Inter Miami also being touted as a possible destination.