PSG keen for Messi to stay on

PARIS Saint-Germain’s football advisor Luis Campos says he will be “delighted” if Lionel Messi agrees to stay with the French champions.

The 35-year-old seven-time Ballon D’Or winner achieved his lifetime ambition of winning the World Cup for Argentina in December and has maintained his form on his return to France.

He scored a key goal in the 3-1 win over Montpellier and then notched his 10th Ligue 1 goal of the season on Saturday as PSG, missing Kylian Mbappe and Neymar through injury, came from behind to beat Toulouse 2-1.

Messi joined PSG in 2021 on a two-year contract, with the option of renewing it for another, after an emotional farewell to Barcelona, where he had spent his whole professional career.

“We are in discussions. I cannot hide that, I would love to have him involved in this project, that he can continue with us,” Campos told French broadcaster TF1.

“I would be delighted if he does so, but we are talking at the moment trying to achieve that goal, that Leo Messi remains with us.”

Campos lauded Messi’s recent contributions to the team especially in the match against Montpellier.

“At half-time I said to him, ‘Leo it is imperative you drag the others with you’. He replied, ‘keep calm’ and he produced an exceptional second-half.”

Messi’s form is just the boost PSG require with the injuted Mbappe due to miss their Champions League last-16 first leg clash with Bayern Munich on February 14.

“Losing Kylian of course is tough, I saw he was very sad about the injury,” said Campos.