Lionel Messi has already reportedly fallen out with an attacking teammate at Paris Saint-Germain and is now pushing the club to conclude a swap deal with former club Barcelona
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Messi trains with Argentina ahead of World Cup qualifiers
Lionel Messi has fallen out with an attacking teammate at Paris Saint-Germain and is reportedly pushing the club to conclude a swap transfer deal with Barcelona.
The Argentine superstar moved to Les Parisiens this summer on a two-year contract after Barca were unable to extend his contract within their salary limit.
Messi has yet to score for his new club in Ligue 1 but has hit his stride in the Champions League, where he has netted three goals – a superb individual effort against Manchester City and a double in the midweek win over RB Leipzig.
Yet he reportedly has frayed relations with one of his attacking teammates at the Parc des Princes and is said to be hopeful of the club attempting a direct swap deal with his former club Barca.
It has been claimed in a report from El Nacional that Messi has had a fresh falling out with striker Mauro Icardi – the two players who had been familiar with each other from their time with the Argentina national squad.
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Indeed, Icardi believes the fact that Messi does not like him is the primary reason that he has not been called up to the international squad in over three years.
The 28-year-old has not played for Argentina since a friendly match against Mexico in 2018 and he has been overlooked on multiple occasions since.
It is claimed that Messi’s arrival has changed the dynamic in the PSG dressing room and Icardi may be a fall guy, despite scoring three goals for the club in Ligue 1 so far this campaign.
Messi is said to want Sergio Aguero to join him in Paris – the two have been roommates together over many years for Argentina and have a close personal friendship.
Indeed, Aguero signed a two-year contract with Barca in May this year after leaving Manchester City as a free agent on the understanding that he would be playing alongside Messi at the Camp Nou.
Yet Messi’s unexpected exit changed all that and while Aguero has finally made his Blaugrana debut having missed the early months of the season through injury, he is seeking an early exit from the club.
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He would be excited at the possibility of linking up with Messi at club level and that has opened up the possibility of a swap deal between the clubs.
Icardi is not a regular starter in PSG’s strongest starting line-up, with Messi forming a fearsome attacking trident alongside Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, while Angel di Maria – another Argentine – could also step into that trio.
Yet Icardi is the only senior central striker outside of Mbappe and if he were to leave the French club, they would be required to immediately add a striking replacement – with Aguero a potentially prime candidate.
