Messi treatment an insult to football says French World Cup winner

Emmanuel Petit celebrating France's win over Brazil in the final of the 1998 World Cup | Imago

Messi treatment an insult to football says French World Cup winner

Ayoola Kelechi 22:22 - 03.04.2023

French World champion speaks out against PSG’s treatment of Lionel Messi

French World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit has hit out at Paris Saint-Germain fans for their persistent booing of Lionel Messi, calling their behaviour an insult to football.

French World Cup winner upset over Messi treatment

Messi has had clashes with PSG fans since the end of last season and in the most recent episode, the Argentine was jeered before and after Les Parisiens’ loss to Lyon, and another former Barcelona man has suggested that he does not deserve such treatment and should head to the Blaugrana instead of renewing his PSG contract.

Petit was part of the France team that claimed the 1998 World Cup on home soil, scoring in the final against Brazil.

Emmanuel Petit won the 1998 World Cup and EURO 2000 with France

He never played for PSG, but had more than 200 appearances in Ligue 1 with Monaco, winning the title in 1997 and is revered as one of the best players in the country’s history.

Petit was speaking on former France international, Jerome Rothen’s Podcast on RMC when he made statements against PSG fans’ treatment of Messi as well as the way the club was being run.

Petit critical of PSG management and fans for Messi treatment

Petit said of the boos against Messi, “When I hear that, for me, it’s an insult to football,” before also adding that it would be best for the Argentine forward to leave the club.

In similar fashion to Patrice Evra’s comments on the same show barely a week ago, Petit sternly criticised the PSG structure and the running of the club, labelling the current management transfer market failures.

“It’s not a football club. It’s a pre-retirement club, even for 20-year-old players, Petit said before continuing, “nobody has improved while at PSG, is that Messi’s fault?

“He’s the magician with a wand, it’s up to the players around him to make an effort.

“Only the PSG fans don’t get that you need a squad built around Messi, which they don’t have, and won’t ever have, because [the management] are terrible in the market.” Petit concluded.

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Messi’s contract situation is still in limbo with evidence appearing to point to a return to Catalonia for the Argentine forward rather than an extension with PSG.

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