PSG make Lionel Messi's departure official
A few minutes before kick-off of their final match of the season against Clermont, PSG made it official that Lionel Messi would be leaving the club this summer, after two seasons with the club.
Lionel Messi will be leaving PSG, as will Sergio Ramos and Christophe Galtier. Having been in the air for several weeks, the departure of the Argentinian on expiry of his contract was made official this Saturday evening by the Parisian club, who face Clermont at 9pm on the 38th day of Ligue 1 (Messi will start).
Le Paris Saint-Germain tient à remercier chaleureusement le septuple Ballon d’Or, vainqueur sous les couleurs Rouge Bleu d’un Trophée des Champions et de deux titres de champion de France. MerciMessi 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/uQrZJzfqX2
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) June 3, 2023
"Paris Saint-Germain is proud to have been able to count the best player in history among its ranks, and wishes Leo, with great emotion, many more successes for the rest of his career," reads the PSG statement.
Messi thanks PSG
The scorer of 32 goals and 35 assists in 74 matches for PSG, Messi made a brief statement on his future former club's website: "Thank you to the club, the city of Paris and its people for these two years. I wish them all the best for the future."
Parisian president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi was a little more talkative: "I'd like to thank Leo Messi for his two seasons in Paris. Seeing a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner in Blue Red and at the Parc des Princes, win back-to-back French championships and inspire our young players has been a pleasure. His contribution to Paris Saint-Germain and Ligue 1 cannot be underestimated, and we wish Leo and his family all the best for the future."