Argentina star Lionel Messi “completely wasted” his first season at Paris Saint-Germain after his shock exit from Barcelona, according to Jerome Rothen.
Messi’s prolific spell at the Camp Nou came to an end after the 2020-21 campaign, with Barcelona unable to push through a new deal due to La Liga’s regulations.
An emotional Messi left Barcelona to complete a sensational free transfer to PSG, with the Barcelona legend earning a lucrative net salary of around £29.6m.
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Messi, who is under contract until 2023, was met with stinging criticism during his first season in the French capital.
The PSG superstar scored 11 times and registered 15 assists in 34 appearances, with Messi lifting the Ligue 1 title in his debut season with the club.
However, ex-Monaco and PSG player Rothen pulled no punches towards Messi and ruthlessly slammed the Argentina skipper over his first season at the Ligue 1 side.
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“He has been at PSG for a year and a half and the first year was completely wasted,” he told RMC Sport.
“I don’t mind there being a time to adapt, but Leo Messi is the best player in the game planet.
“For these players, the adaptation is supposed to be shorter. For me, his attitude for a year was too far like Neymar and that’s why there was a lot of criticism on them.”
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Both Messi and Neymar were met with boos from PSG fans after the French side suffered an incredible Champions League collapse to Real Madrid last season.
Rothen defended the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner by saying that the PSG fans “went too far” with their reception in the aftermath of the Champions League exit.
However, the former France international understands why PSG fans were “extremely disappointed” in Messi after the high expectations on his arrival at the club.
“Yes, they [the fans] went too far last year, some insulted him,” Rothen added.
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“But that was because they were like me: we were crazy to see Messi in Ligue 1 and we were extremely disappointed.
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“And there, you are going to ask them, with the World Cup, to give him an ovation? And there, he is going to seek comfort? No, no, no.”
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PSG on Wednesday confirmed that Messi had reported back for club duties after leading Argentina to the World Cup trophy in Qatar.
Topics: Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1, France, Football
Adnan Riaz