PSG midfielder Leandro Paredes reveals he was told off by the French giants for speaking out about Lionel Messi’s future last year… when the Barcelona captain’s Argentina team-mate claimed everyone at the Ligue 1 champions wanted the forward to join
- Leandro Paredes claimed in December that everyone at PSG wants Lionel Messi
- The PSG midfielder plays at international level for Argentina with the star striker
- The Barcelona captain has been strongly linked with a move away from the club
- Paredes revealed that PSG told him off for his comments surrounding Messi
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes admitted he was told off by the club for talking about Lionel Messi potentially joining from Barcelona.
Messi has been strongly linked with a move away from Barcelona when his contract expires at the end of the season, with PSG one of the clubs capable of affording the Barcelona captain’s large wage packet.
Paredes, who plays with the Barcelona star at international level for Argentina, claimed everyone at PSG wants Messi to come to the French capital – comments which the French champions told him off about.
PSG’s Leandro Paredes (right) revealed he was told off by the club for talking about Lionel Messi’s future at Barcelona
Paredes (second right) spoke out about Messi’s future, who months left on his Barcelona deal
The midfielder told Le Journal du Dimanche last week: ‘They (PSG) have asked me not to talk about it (Messi’s potential transfer) anymore.
‘People didn’t like my position on what I was saying. Some people saw it as disrespectful. This was not the case for me.
‘It’s up to Messi to decide calmly at the end of the season what he wants to do with his future.’
The Barcelona star, who has scored 659 goals for the LaLiga giants since coming through the club’s academy, has been linked with a move to PSG and was even photoshopped in the Ligue 1 side’s shirt by France Football last month.
Barcelona’s Messi was pictured in a PSG shirt for a February front page of France Football
Reports claim that current PSG star and former Barcelona winger Neymar is pulling the strings to try and convince Messi to join Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Paredes himself added to the speculation by saying that PSG would ‘welcome him with open arms’ and that he hopes he makes the best career decision.
The PSG and Argentine midfielder told ESPN in December: ‘Messi at PSG? I hope so, we all want him to come.
The PSG midfielder (right) plays at international level with Messi (left) and wants him to come
‘I hope Leo will make the best decision for him, but we will welcome him with open arms.’
Messi shocked the football world last summer when he handed in a transfer request at Barcelona, with the Argentine icon unsatisfied with the Spanish giants’ position both on and off the pitch.
The Catalans finished behind Real Madrid in the LaLiga title race last term and were humiliated 8-2 by Bayern Munich in August’s Champions League quarter-final.
Paredes (left) said in December that everyone at PSG wanted his Argentina team-mate to join
Messi also cited broken promises made by former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned from his role in October after increasing pressure.
The Barcelona forward’s chances of staying at the club were increased earlier this month by Joan Laporta becoming Bartomeu’s full-time successor.
Laporta oversaw Barcelona’s iconic success period between 2003 and 2010 when the club won two Champions Leagues and four league titles. The Catalans also won six trophies in 2009 under former head coach Pep Guardiola.
