Before joining Inter Miami, superstar Lionel Messi advised his younger counterpart Kylian Mbappe to leave PSG. Messi believed that the French international deserved "a truly winning project" rather than wasting his youth at Paris.
This revelation comes from the Spanish outlet Defensa Central. Defensa Central disclosed that Messi had a conversation with Mbappe, expressing his desire for the 24-year-old forward to join Barcelona instead of Real Madrid.
However, Messi ultimately convinced Mbappe to move to a club capable of competing for the biggest honors in European football, rather than trying to steer the current World Cup runner-up to Barca.
"I would prefer you to come to Barca," Messi told Mbappe. "But if you want to go to Madrid, then do it. You deserve a truly winning project," added the 35-year-old superstar.
With 5 Ligue 1 titles and 3 French Cups, winning is not an issue for Mbappe at PSG. Instead, the predictable collapse of the wealthy Parisian club in crucial stages of the Champions League has left a generation of PSG players led by Mbappe disappointed.
Not long ago, Mbappe shocked the media by announcing that he would not extend his contract with PSG after the conclusion of the 2023/24 season. This news has fueled speculation about his potential move to Real Madrid.
As for Messi, he has agreed to a groundbreaking deal to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), putting an end to his relatively unsuccessful two-year spell at PSG. Prior to that, Messi had received a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia worth $400 million per season, which he declined.
