After a tumultuous week which saw him suspended by PSG over an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia on Monday, Lionel Messi (35) has received the support of former Barcelona and Argentina teammate Javier Mascherano. The former Liverpool man spent eight seasons, from 2010 to 2018, with Messi in Catalonia. The 38-year-old, who called time on his illustrious playing career three years ago, has criticised PSG over their handling of La Pulga. “It’s a shame to not realise the kind of player they were lucky to have in their team“, Mascherano said to D Sports, as reported on by L’Équipe. “I think that, ten years ago, no PSG fan could have imagined they would have the best player in history in their team. And instead of appreciating him, they spent two years criticising him. » “
The 147-time Argentina international doubled down on his criticism of Les Parisiens. “In ten years, they will regret it. Any team in the world would give anything to have him for five minutes.” Messi has apologised to his teammates and the club for skipping Monday’s training session. The 2022 World Cup winner is suspended from two weeks and see his pay docked. It remains to be seen whether he will play the final three games of the season once his suspension is over. “If there is one thing that cannot be criticised, it is his professionalism“, Mascherano said about the 7-time Ballon d’Or winner. “It is impossible to criticise him. Let him go with his family where he is happy.”
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
