Lionel Messi’s remaining sport for PSG ends in defeat – as hypothesis ramps up over his subsequent transfer

Lionel Messi’s remaining sport for Paris St Germain – and presumably his final outing in European soccer – led to defeat on Saturday.

The Ligue 1 champions had been crushed 3-2 at dwelling to Clermont on a heat night, having given up a two purpose lead handed to them by French ahead Kylian Mbappe and departing Spanish defender Sergio Ramos.

It was not the way in which Messi would have wished to bow out – he additionally did not get on the scoresheet, and was jeered by some dwelling followers on the Parc des Princes when the stadium announcer learn out his identify earlier than kick-off.

The 35-year-old Argentinian will depart the French capital this summer season when his contract expires, and is being strongly linked with a giant cash transfer to Saudi Arabian membership Al-Hilal.

It would put him again in the identical league as his previous rival Cristiano Ronaldo, with whom he locked horns on many events when the pair performed for Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga.

Ronaldo turned the very best paid participant in world soccer when he moved to Al-Nassr in December, having departed Manchester United in ignominious trend halfway by means of the season.

Al-Hilal are reportedly prepared to provide Messi a good greater wage, probably north of £300m a yr.

A return to Barcelona?

Messi has additionally been linked with a return to Barcelona, his solely earlier membership, the place he made greater than 500 appearances and scored nearly as many objectives.

The Catalan giants have endured excessive monetary difficulties in recent times, and let Messi go on a free switch two years in the past after falling into greater than £1bn of debt.

It stays to be seen how the membership might finance a deal for Messi, with any provide more likely to be blown out of the water by any propositions from Saudi Arabia.

Messi’s combined report in Paris

Ahead of his remaining sport in Paris, Messi walked on to the sphere along with his three kids.

“I would like to thank the club, the city of Paris and its people for these two years,” he informed the membership web site.

“I wish you all the best for the future.”

Messi has gained two league titles and a French Champions trophy in his time at PSG, scoring 32 objectives.

He scored his 496th profession league purpose final month, breaking Ronaldo’s report for Europe’s high 5 divisions.

But his relationship with the Qatar-backed membership and its followers has soured since he gained the World Cup in December, his kind having dipped and his aspect crashing out of the Champions League.

He was additionally suspended by PSG after an unauthorised journey to Saudi Arabia, the place he has a industrial deal to advertise tourism.