A footballer in Europe has now claimed that Lionel Messi told him that Paris Saint-Germain were rubbish.
It is no secret that Messi did not particularly enjoy his time at Parc des Princes, especially towards the end of his stay, with the player even admitting that he resented the fact that PSG did not honour him in a proper way after his 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph.
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Moreover, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was subjected to boos during the latter part of his two-season spell with the French giants, with some of the club's supporters blaming him and Neymar for failing to lead the side to a first-ever UEFA Champions League title.
Belgian footballer Brecht Dejaeger, who played against Messi in Ligue 1, has now revealed that when he encountered the Argentine again in Major League Soccer, he made a bombshell revelation about his time with the Parisians.
"After the final whistle, I asked Messi if he felt better in Miami than Paris," Dejaeger told RTBF about the encounter where his Charlotte FC side came up against Inter Miami in 2023.
"Messi was surprised, and I told him I had played against him previously for Toulouse at Parc des Princes.
"He didn't remember me, but for me, it was a childhood dream come true. Messi has always been my favourite player.
"Messi admitted that for him, PSG was 'la merda' – yes, rubbish.
"At first, the Parisian fans welcomed him warmly, but after the failure in the Champions League, everything changed. Messi was booed at every match, and he just got tired of it.
"In that game, it seems I fouled him twice. During the game, you forget who's who, but after the final whistle, I didn't dare to ask him for his jersey."
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Meanwhile, USA men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino, who coached Messi at PSG, recently praised the 37-year-old for his impact in the MLS.
"The impact is impossible to measure because it is incredible. Not only on the fans, but on everything. The ability to motivate everyone, the entire structure around him, but the impact of seeing him compete with the players, especially those in the MLS," the former Chelsea boss said, according to Goal.
"It will have an impact not only in the present, but over time, in the medium and long term. One thing that has been given is having the possibility of having the best player in the world competing there, being able to see him and touch him.
"I think that generates confidence and the ability to believe in the objectives that can be achieved in the future. Incredible."