After two years at PSG, Argentine magician Lionel Messi found no joy, which is why he was desperately looking for an opportunity to leave the club.
Having been forced to leave Barcelona, Messi’s heart had already been broken. His time at PSG only made his life more unbearable. He couldn’t enjoy a single day there. Lost in that darkness, Messi was desperately seeking a sliver of light. That light came in the form of an offer to play for Inter Miami.
After leaving PSG, Messi openly expressed that his time in Paris wasn’t great. He revisited those painful days during a recent interview with Apple Music on Friday.
The 37-year-old star said, after enduring two difficult years at PSG, he was determined to leave the club.
“After my time in Paris, signing with Inter (Miami) was an opportunity I had to take. I had no choice, because after being forced to leave Barcelona, I couldn’t enjoy those two years at PSG,” Messi shared.
“Everything – training sessions, matches – I was unhappy with everything. It became difficult for me to adapt to everything.”
However, Messi’s smile returned once he moved to Miami.
After years of incredible performances with Barcelona, winning 10 La Liga titles, 4 Champions Leagues, and 3 Club World Cups, Messi was forced to leave his childhood club in 2021 due to financial complications. He moved to PSG on a two-year contract.
At PSG, Messi tasted French league glory twice, winning Ligue 1 titles and one French Cup. However, the main goal for PSG’s management and fans, the Champions League title, remained elusive. By the end of his time at PSG, Messi’s relationship with the club had soured.
After his remarkable World Cup victory with Argentina in 2022, disappointment among PSG fans towards Messi only increased. A section of fans blamed him for failing to win the Champions League. He also faced a ban for going on a personal trip to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission, skipping a training session.
In 2023, Messi’s contract with PSG ended, and he moved to Inter Miami. At his new club, his success has skyrocketed. Last season, Miami won their first-ever Supporters’ Shield, and Messi was named the season’s best player. At the club, Messi reunited with long-time Barcelona teammates like Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suárez.
Messi’s arrival has led to record revenue growth for Miami. Sponsors are flocking to the club, and stadiums are packed even in away games. The global interest in Major League Soccer (MLS) has also surged.
Messi hopes other clubs will follow Miami’s lead in making the league even more vibrant.
“MLS has grown a lot and is continuing to improve. I hope this progress doesn’t stop, and that other clubs, following Inter Miami’s example, will help enrich this league,” Messi said.
