Large sections of the fanbase at French heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain this evening made use of the opportunity to take firm aim at transfer-linked attacker Lionel Messi.
The name of seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, of course, has taken its place front and centre in the media headlines across the week to date.
This comes as rumours continue to mount in the media that the Argentine has set his sights firmly on a move back to former employers Barcelona.
The Blaugrana, for their part, have made no secret of the club’s desire to reunite with Messi in the summer, two years on from the veteran frontman being forced out at the Camp Nou owing to financial concerns.
Barça vice president Rafa Yuste: “We’ve been in contact with Leo Messi’s camp. Leo knows how much we appreciate him and I’d love for him to come back” 🔵🔴 #FCB
“For sure Messi loves Barça and the city, so we hope to find the right conditions to continue his history here”. pic.twitter.com/bUOqNUlQLs
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 31, 2023
The powers that be in Paris, meanwhile, remain hopeful of Messi ultimately opting to stay put, ahead of the expiration of his current contract in the summer.
But such wishes have not been at all aided by the recent actions of the club’s fanbase, who, on more than one occasion, have made their evident displeasure with the recent World Cup winner clear.
And now, as alluded to above, amid fresh speculation that he will soon be on the move out of France’s capital, such supporters have doubled down.
Ahead of PSG’s Ligue 1 showdown with Olympique Lyonnais, Messi’s name – as part of Christophe Galtier’s starting XI – was read aloud to the stadium.
It was immediately followed, however, by a loud chorus of boos and jeers, amid growing tension in France’s capital city:
Lionel Messi was booed once again by PSG fans at the Parc des Princes 😳pic.twitter.com/P6u8rfZoKx
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) April 2, 2023
PSG fans boo Lionel Messi’s name being read out as rumours continue of a summer return to Barcelona. 🔵 #FCB
📹 @danigilopez pic.twitter.com/fTKAk5ob44
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley) April 2, 2023
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