Transfer Centre

Lionel Messi 'wants assurances from PSG before signing new contract'

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 10 March 2023

Lionel Messi is reportedly interested in remaining at Paris Saint-Germain past this summer, as long as the club can assure him they will remain competitive.

Lionel Messi is reportedly interested in extending his stay at Paris Saint-Germain as long as the club can assure him they will remain competitive following a second consecutive early exit from the Champions League.

The Ligue 1 champions were knocked out of Europe's elite competition on Wednesday by Bayern Munich, after going out at the same stage to Real Madrid last season.

The club look set to win the French title once again this season, but are still yet to claim an all-important Champions League crown.

However, Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague has said Messi would be willing to stay in Paris as long as they can assure him they will remain competitive at the top level.

The World Cup-winning captain is out of contract in the summer, but talks are ongoing about extending his spell at the club.

"The agreement in principle for Messi now has to be confirmed in writing and in details - wages, length of contract. He is listening and would continue if conditions are right," Balague is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

"As usual, I imagine there will be demands, above all one in particular - that PSG continue being a competitive team.

"Things that could affect that are if Kylian Mbappe goes, if Qatar stops being interested in the club, if financial limits force PSG to sell players or if PSG are unable to meet the financial minimum to keep Messi."

PSG director Luis Campos is in talks with Messi's father and agent Jorge, telling Le Parisien: "At the moment, we are in discussion. I would like to keep him in this project, I can't hide it.

"I would be delighted if he continued. We are discussing at the moment to try to reach the goal and continue to have him with us."

With Messi determined to play competitive football, potential moves to boyhood club Newell's Old Boys or Inter Miami are seemingly off the table for now, while Barcelona are unlikely to be able to afford their former star man in their current financial state.