In a recent interview on RMC, Jerome Rothen went on a rant on Lionel Messi and the boos he has received from the Paris Saint-Germain fans at Parc des Princes recently. Rothen sided with PSG’s ultras and said,
“Whether it’s Lionel Messi or another player, he can be whistled.
“Should we refrain from whistling because it’s Messi? Why? Because his name is Messi? Whether you don’t give a damn or not, whether you’re good or not, whether you’re invested or not, the supporter is there just to open his mouth and applaud?
“The fans shouldn’t say anything? They buy popcorn, eat burgers, drink their soda and it doesn’t matter? Of course Lionel Messi can be whistled, he’s a player like any other. Otherwise, we have to do something else, find another sport. There will be fewer supporters behind him, like me, and many who remain unsatisfied since he signed for PSG.”
Lionel Messi: Recent Form At Paris Saint-Germain
Lionel Messi is having a decent campaign in Paris but has struggled to be productive for them in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages this season. Messi failed to score a goal in the two legs against Bayern Munich which resulted in the French club’s elimination from the prestigious European competition.
Still, the Argentine superstar deserves a lot of credit for winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup with his nation in Qatar. As of 19 March 2023, he has registered 18 goals and 17 assists in 31 appearances for PSG this season across all competitions.
Messi has enjoyed a rich vein of form for the French giants in the final third as he is averaging 4.3 shots, 2.7 key passes and 3.4 dribbles per game in Ligue 1. He has also been tidy with his ball distribution on the attacking end of the field based on his pass completion rate of 82.8% in the French first division (stats via whoscored).
Messi is on an expiring contract at Parc des Princes, so it is no surprise that some of the French club’s fans are whistling and booing the star player. It remains to be seen what the future holds for the Argentina international as he edges closer to retiring from playing football.
