Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) captain Marquinhos has called on the club’s fans to stop booing Lionel Messi, who is certain to depart the French capital once the season concludes.
Messi’s two-year contract with PSG is nearing its end, and negotiations for a new agreement have not reached a successful resolution. The player himself has expressed a desire to return to his former club Barcelona, where he spent over two decades.
Despite competition from Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia and financial constraints, reports indicate that Barcelona is now “extremely confident” about the potential reunion.
While Barcelona cannot match the lucrative €400 million per year offer from Saudi Arabia, Camp Nou officials are working diligently to make room for Messi within their wage structure. However, for the time being, Messi remains a PSG player and has recently faced criticism from supporters.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who was briefly suspended by the club due to a trip to Saudi Arabia, was subjected to boos from the crowd at Parc des Princes during last weekend’s 5-0 victory over Ajaccio.
As PSG prepares to face Auxerre away from home on Sunday night, Marquinhos has cautioned fans against targeting Messi or any other individual player. The captain’s appeal seeks to maintain harmony and support within the team, urging fans to respect and appreciate the contributions of all players, including Messi, during their time at the club.
“I always respect protests when they are peaceful, at the times and places where it is necessary,” he told L’Equipe.
“Above all, I ask the supporters not to target one player or another. It must always be collective. A player doesn’t walk on his own, he’s not going to do anything on his own.“
