Paris Saint-Germain officially marks the departure of Lionel Messi

Paris Saint-Germain announced, on Saturday, in a press release, the departure of its striker, Lionel Messi, at the end of the season, after two years in the capital.

Messi, 35, will play his last match for Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday against Clermont, on the final day of Ligue 1. His contract expired at the end of June.

“The club would like to warmly thank the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, the red and blue winner of the Champions Cup and two French championship titles,” Paris Saint-Germain wrote in a press release.

“Thank you to the club and to the city of Paris and its inhabitants for these two years. I wish them well for the future,” the Argentine replied in the press release issued by Paris Saint-Germain.

Arriving with a bang in 2021 from FC Barcelona, ​​Messi played 74 matches for the Parisian club, scoring 32 goals and providing 35 assists. But he will not be able to guide Paris towards its ultimate goal, the Champions League.

And the Parisian club adds: “Paris Saint-Germain is proud of its ability to count the best player in history in its ranks and desires, and with a certain passion, and the many other successes of Leo throughout his career.”

The soap opera about the future of “La Pulga” has been stretching since the end of 2022, with many twists and turns. Initially confident of extension, the two camps gradually drifted apart.

The Argentine’s promotional trip to Saudi Arabia in early May, which was not authorized by the club, formalized the divorce, and Paris Saint-Germain even suspended his player for a few days.

“His contribution to Paris Saint-Germain and Ligue 1 cannot be underestimated, and we wish Leo and his family all the best for the future,” said Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain.