Karim Benzema slams critics of Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi

Karim Benzema claims people who criticise Lionel Messi ‘know nothing about football’, despite his slow start to life at Paris Saint-Germain.

The Argentine superstar swapped Barcelona for PSG in the summer, bringing an end to his glittering spell at Camp Nou.

But Messi is yet to live up to his astronomically high standards in Paris and has faced criticism over his performances for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

The 34-year-old has netted just once in 11 Ligue 1 games this season, although he has scored five goals in five Champions League matches.

But Real Madrid striker Benzema thinks seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is merely going through a ‘period of adaptation’ at PSG.

‘How won’t he succeed? It is just a period of adaptation, because he is not scoring a lot of goals,’ Benzema told TF1.

‘But watch what he does on the pitch.

‘In any case you cannot criticise a player like that, he who criticises Messi, knows nothing about football in fact!’

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Jamie Carragher recently revealed that he received a private message from Messi, who was less than impressed with the Liverpool legend’s comments on his move to PSG.

‘He [Messi] is not happy with me at all’, Carragher told Sky Sports.

‘I had a little pop at [Cristiano] Ronaldo early in the season, I didn’t think it was a great signing for United.

‘And I said the example of Messi, I didn’t think Messi was a great signing for PSG.

‘It was on Monday Night Football and I got a private message on Instagram. From the man himself, I will not be showing private messages but he basically called me a