Paris Saint-Germain’s interest was piqued when Lionel Messi declared his intention to leave Barcelona, sporting director Leonardo has admitted.
The Argentina star sent shockwaves around world football when he declared his intention to leave the Spanish club for free this summer, though the Blaugrana insisted any buyers would have to match his €700-million release clause.
But Messi revealed this week that he will remain at the club because he does not want to fight the Catalan giants in court.
Manchester City were seen as the most likely destination for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, but PSG would have considered making a move for him.
“Today when you think about the financial situation it’s complicated,” Leonardo told Telefoot when asked if the French champions were interested.
“When we are told Messi wants to leave, we are tempted. You say to yourself, will it be f*cking possible? They are players completely out of any discussion.
“I don’t know, David Beckham ended up at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi ending up in Paris? I don’t know.
“It’s football, in the end, everyone’s sitting at the table, everyone knows everything, and it’s moving forward.”
While the Ligue 1 giants missed out on the signing of one icon, they said goodbye to two club greats when Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva left after their contracts expired.
Silva’s agent said Leonardo offered the Brazilian centre back an extension after he had already agreed to join Chelsea and the director admits deciding whether or not to keep the pair was a tough call.
“Decisions over players like this are not easy. They are players who have done everything for the club, absolute idols,” he said.
“It’s hard to say if one year more, or less, would be better, or just to stop there.
“This group, and what they did in the second half of the year, is great. We want to keep the group together.”
While Ligue 1 is two weeks into the 2020-21 campaign, PSG are yet to kick theirs off because of their participation in the Champions League final. Thomas Tuchel’s team will play their first game of the new season on Thursday when they visit Lens.
