PSG optimistic of new Messi contract after World Cup glory in Qatar

Lionel Messi is a world champion with Argentina, a title for which he had fought for throughout his career. He was so focused on the World Cup in Qatar that he already warned, before heading to Doha, that he did not want to know anything about his immediate future at club level: neither renewing with PSG nor a hypothetical return to Barça or a possible exit to MLS.

Everything was frozen.

"After the World Cup, I will rethink many things," he said in March. With his objective achieved, and once he has enjoyed a well-deserved rest, it will be time to start thinking about everything.

PSG, despite Messi's plans, did not want to wait until after the World Cup. The Qatari-owned club bet heavily on him when he left Barça. Rescuing him then, immersed from one day to the next in a complicated situation, is something that Messi valued and continues to value very positively. Whatever happens, there is a firm will that the relationship between both parties continues to be cordial and of the utmost respect. In short, Messi is grateful for the treatment provided by PSG.

The PSG president, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, wants to renew Messi's deal and, although he has respected the timings imposed by Leo, movements have already taken place with the aim of laying the foundations for future negotiations. The person in charge of testing the terrain has been Luis Campos. The French club's sporting advisor, during the months prior to the World Cup, held occasional meetings in which, as Messi had expressly requested, no type of negotiation was entered into, but a possible roadmap was drawn up in the case that, when the time comes, Messi's desire is to maintain his links with PSG and continue playing at the highest level in France.

In this sense, the possibility of extending his current contract, which ends on June 30, by another season plus another optional one, was transferred to the No.10. This formula, which would serve to later go into detail with the content of the agreement, has been changing towards the option of two fixed years. Of course, Messi wants to reserve the freedom to decide his future unilaterally at the end of the first season.

Optimism in Paris

The sensations at the Parisian club are good and there is optimism about the renewal of the Argentine. They were already optimistic before the World Cup, but the performance and trajectory of Messi in Doha has only increased the positive perceptions. Messi has shown that he is at an exceptional physical level and eager to continue competing at the highest level.

In this sense, he has already fulfilled all the objectives that a footballer can dream of and the time has come for him, beyond the demands with which he has lived throughout his career, to enjoy football in the most playful sense of the word. All this, added to the good 'feeling' that he maintains with Al-Khelaïfi, and his desire to win the Champions League again, allows the club to think that he will continue playing in Paris. Nothing has been decided, but PSG have done their homework.