Lionel Messi ‘to continue’ at PSG next season

Lionel Messi will remain at Paris Saint-Germain next season, according to a report, despite speculation linking the iconic Argentine with a return to Barcelona.

The 34-year-old joined PSG last summer having been forced to leave Camp Nou due to the crippling financial situation there, which has only recently begun to subside.

Messi had been expected to take Ligue 1 by storm, but since moving to France he has not played at anything close to the level he reached during his time at Barça – scoring just eight goals in all competitions to date, although he does have 13 assists.

That has not stopped a number of his former teammates and even club president Joan Laporta talking up a possible return to Barcelona, where Messi spent 17 trophy-laden years.

However, Laporta has since changed his tune, and now Mundo Deportivo write that the player has decided to ‘continue’ in the French capital anyway.

The report claims that Messi has been surprised by the speculation surrounding his future and the thought of leaving this summer had not crossed his mind. The Argentina international has one more year left on his contract and intends to honour it.

Even PSG‘s Champions League last-16 capitulation against Real Madrid is not said to have made Messi want to leave, and he believes he can guide Les Parisiens to glory in the competition next season.

La Pulga is also aware that he will have to step up his game, with Kylian Mbappe likely to depart the Parc des Princes on a free transfer to Real Madrid this summer.