Lionel Messi Exit from PSG: Lionel Messi Gets Suspended For Two Games, Is This The End of a Loveless Marriage of Convenience?
Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, has been suspended for a fortnight by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and will miss two of their final five Ligue 1 fixtures. It has become clear that Messi’s exit from the Parc des Princes is inevitable, and he will not play for PSG next season. Despite the club’s desire to keep him for commercial reasons, Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns meant that one of their highly-paid superstars had to be offloaded, and Messi was the obvious choice.
The Disappointing PSG Recruitment Strategy
The recruitment strategy of PSG in the summer of 2021 has been a monumental letdown. Messi’s arrival generated the most excitement, and yet he has been the biggest disappointment. PSG’s objective has long been a first Champions League, which is one of the main reasons why the loveless marriage of convenience between Messi and PSG came into being.
The Messi Effect on PSG’s Brand
Despite his lackluster on-field performance, Messi has undoubtedly delivered off the field. His arrival generated the highest engagement rate in the history of player announcements, and the club gained 20 million new subscribers to their social media accounts. PSG’s brand is built on high-profile players, and Messi remains integral to it. Take away the star names, and PSG risks becoming irrelevant on the global stage.
A Most Modern Affair
This modern affair was all about money from the beginning. Messi and PSG’s relationship was built upon nothing but a shared interest in making money. There has been no classic clash with the coach, no old-fashioned dressing-room dust-up, no late-night indiscretion. It was a business deal that was always going to end in a public rebuke from PSG’s owners.
A PR Win for PSG
This is a huge PR win for PSG, as they’ve sent a message to their superstars and supporters that insubordination will no longer be tolerated at the Parc des Princes. A new era starts now, and the fans hope it will lead to a total overhaul at the club.
In conclusion the manner of Messi’s departure is farcical but fitting. It is a symbol of PSG’s flawed philosophy, which Messi may have represented, but he did not implement. Messi’s exit marks the end of a loveless marriage of convenience built on money and commercial reasons. It is now up to PSG to rebuild and aim for the Champions League trophy that has eluded them for so long.
