Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Gaultier has insisted that neither he or Lionel Messi was impressed with several fans that boo’ed the Argentinian on Saturday.
- Messi booed by own fans at PSG return
- Gaultier feels forward is used to hostility
- Messi nearing end of contract in Paris
What is the news?
Messi returned to the team at PSG after a one-week suspension for an unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia. When entering the pitch, Messi was welcomed by a group of PSG supporters by a chorus of boos. The chants went on for the entire game, but Gaultier has insisted that Messi was not impacted by the upset fans.
What did Gaultier say?
After the game the PSG head coach said: “There were some boos directed at Leo at the beginning of the match when he touched the ball. However, very quickly, a large portion of the stadium drowned out those jeers with applause and encouragement. What I take away from it is that Leo remained focused and engaged in the game, with the desire to lead the team offensively and create opportunities. He is accustomed to these situations as his career has exposed him to difficult moments.”
The backstory
It is expected that Messi will leave PSG at the end of this season. His contract is about to expire and it doesn’t look like he’s going to renew. In addition, Messi’s relationship with the fans is not good and the Argentinian has been booed by his own supporters more than once this season.
What next for Messi?
In the next few months it will become clear where Messi’s future lies. The forward has been long linked with a move back to FC Barcelona, whilst he has also received an offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
