Sports Desk:

Lionel Messi revealed that his challenging stint at PSG influenced his move to Inter Miami. Struggles in Paris, Champions League failures, and fan criticism pushed him toward a fresh start, where he is now thriving in Major League Soccer.

Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has admitted that his difficult spell at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) played a major role in his decision to move to Major League Soccer (MLS) with Inter Miami. Reflecting on his challenging two-year stint in France, Messi revealed that adapting to life at PSG was tough after leaving FC Barcelona as a free agent.

Messi’s move to PSG in 2021 generated massive excitement in the football world, following Barcelona’s inability to renew his contract due to financial constraints. However, his time in Paris did not unfold as many had hoped. Speaking to Apple Music, the Argentine World Cup winner opened up about the struggles he faced at the club, which ultimately influenced his decision to accept David Beckham’s offer to join Inter Miami in 2023.

“Signing for Inter (Miami) was an opportunity because of the way things went in my last years in Paris,” Messi said.

“It was a decision I had to make because I had to leave Barcelona and I spent two years that I didn’t enjoy. I wasn’t happy on a day-to-day basis, with the training sessions, the games, I found it hard to adapt to all that,” the Argentina captain added.

Despite winning two Ligue 1 titles and the 2022 French Super Cup, Messi failed to leave the mark expected from an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. He managed 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances—solid numbers, yet not the astronomical impact many expected, especially with Neymar and Kylian Mbappé alongside him in PSG’s attack.

PSG’s back-to-back Champions League failures further compounded Messi’s struggles, with frustration growing amongst the club’s fanbase. The discontent escalated when Messi faced criticism from his own supporters and was even suspended by PSG for taking an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia at a time when rumours of a potential move to Al Hilal were swirling.

Now, at Inter Miami, Messi seems revitalised. The Argentine has already scored 26 goals and provided 20 assists in 42 matches, helping the club win the Supporters’ Shield. Surrounded by familiar faces like Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba—under the management of Javier Mascherano—Messi has found joy in football once again.