Lionel Messi 'set' to leave PSG as Barcelona transfer talk hits a new gear for Argentina superstar

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly decided to part ways with Lionel Messi after talks over a new deal broke down.

The Argentina superstar has been locked in negotiations with the Ligue 1 champions since returning from Qatar as a world champion and his stock still high despite his advancing years. Now 35, he has 18 goals and 17 assists at club level and inspired his country to World Cup glory with an incredible seven goals in the middle east.

It had seemed likely he would extend his stay in Paris beyond the end of the 2022/23 season but talks have rumbled on and, with no conclusion seemingly imminent, it's reported his club have pulled a deal off the table. RMC Sport say they want to get rid of one of the superstar trio of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Messi, and it's the latter who is set to depart when his deal is up. It's likely to ramp up talk of a return to Barcelona with his former teammate Xavi making no secret of his desire to bring him back.

Messi has been booed at times by PSG fans this season and Thierry Henry says he should return to Barca. He said: "You can’t whistle one of the best players on the team, who has 13 goals and 13 assists this season. Personally, I would like to see him finish his career at Barcelona, in Europe.

"After that, I don’t know what he will do. Because the way he left Barcelona after everything he did. I didn’t really like it. For the love of football, he should go back to Barcelona."

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