“The End of Messi’s Time at PSG: Suspension Signals Departure and Growing Resentment”

The suspension of Lionel Messi by Paris Saint-Germain marks the failure of the sevenfold Ballon d’Or in Paris, where for two seasons he sometimes shone but experienced a growing loss of love and was often the target of whistles from the Parc des Princes and supporters, several hundred of whom showed their anger on Wednesday.

The club’s decision on Tuesday to suspend the Argentinian “several days” for an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia probably marks the end of his history with PSG. Will we simply see Messi again on the grounds of Ligue 1, as the break seems to be consummated today?

The time of this disciplinary procedure, the Argentine world champion, who missed Monday’s training without the approval of the staff, “cannot train, cannot play and is not paid”, according to a source with knowledge of the procedure. Several media claim that the suspension runs for two weeks, a duration that the club did not wish to confirm on Wednesday.

The decision is spectacular as the sanction is firm with regard to the star and extremely rare, even if certain players have been reprimanded to varying degrees in recent years, such as Serge Aurier in 2016 after his remarks against Laurent Blanc on the network. Periscope.

This still marks a turn, knowing that PSG is often criticized for its lack of authority towards its star players who have sometimes seemed above the institution.

In Argentina, the press has moreover welcomed this sanction with a certain skepticism. The newspaper Olé judges it in particular “too severe (…) because it is the best in the world, that he had an exemplary conduct in his career, in the national team, in Barcelona, ​​and now at PSG”.

This new controversy adds to the growing resentment of many supporters, some of whom – the Ultras – demonstrated on Monday in front of the Camp des Loges following the defeat against Lorient (3-1) and gathered again on Wednesday evening in front of the club headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt.

“We’re fed up with mercenaries! We have to fire Messi!”, “Resignation management” or even “Paris is us”, in particular chanted the supporters, also targeting and insulting the Brazilian Neymar or the coach, Christophe Galtier .

Some even seem to have gone to the Brazilian star’s home in Bougival (Yvelines), according to several videos broadcast on social networks that AFP could not identify, singing “Neymar break yourself”.

In a press release released in the evening, PSG “condemned in the strongest terms the intolerable and insulting actions of a small group of individuals” and gave “all its support to its players, to its management”.

Since the World Cup, almost nothing

Will the disappointment that accompanies Messi’s performances end up being shared by the club’s owners, the fund Qatar Sports Investments (QSI)?

The latter have reason to wonder in view of the last months of “la Pulga”. Celebrated in Argentina after the coronation of Doha on December 18, the player who will turn 36 in June showed a completely different facet in Paris, to whom he was supposed to take a mental step in the Champions League.

Since the return of the World Cup, Paris has experienced two eliminations in a row, in the Champions League against Bayern and in the Coupe de France against Olympique de Marseille.

These poor results coincided with a decline for Messi on the pitch. Before the World Cup, the Argentinian had totaled 12 goals and 14 assists in 19 matches. His record has hardly improved since: he is now at 15 goals (+3) and 15 assists (+1) on the 33rd day.

In Paris, the superstar’s transplant seems never to have fully taken, despite some nice moments, his goal against Manchester City in the fall of 2021 or a last-second free kick against Lille (4-3), February 19 , an evening when he had not shown much else. A good summary of his intermittent genius in Paris.

Marketing or sports?

From a more political and marketing point of view, Leo Messi’s adventure at PSG was rather a great success for the club’s image abroad, especially in Asia.

The arrival of the Argentine star has allowed the arrival of new sponsors. His brand image has guaranteed lucrative operations for the club allowing him to take a turn at the global level.