'Lionel Messi slagged off club when I spoke to him on the pitch – he was fed up'

Lionel Messi told an opponent that his time at Paris Saint-Germain was ‘s***,’ according to former MLS star Brecht Dejaegere. The Argentinian spent two seasons at PSG alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Sergio Ramos and Neymar Jr – but has admitted he didn’t enjoy his time at the club.

Dejaegere has faced Messi in two separate leagues and has opened up about his experience with the iconic forward. The Belgian midfielder played against Messi in France when he was at Toulouse and the Argentinian was at PSG – and then encountered him again in the MLS league in America.

The pair reunited when Messi’s Inter Miami took on Dejaegere’s Charlotte FC in 2023, and the Belgian asked him if he was enjoying his time playing for David Beckham’s team in the United States more than he did in France. The now-33-year-old said: “At the final whistle, I asked him if he felt better in Miami than in France.

“He was surprised, and I told him I’d played against him with Toulouse at the Parc des Princes. He didn’t remember me… but it was my childhood dream come true. Messi has always been my favourite player!”

Messi then admitted that he thought his time at PSG was ‘s***’, admitting that the club’s failings in the Champions League ended up turning the fans on the team.

Dejaegere continued: “It was a real thrill to meet him… And so, that day, he told me that for him, PSG was ‘la merda’. Yes, s*** (he bursts out laughing), because although the Parisians had been very welcoming at first, he had taken a dislike to them after the failure in the Champions League: he was getting whistled at every ball and he was fed up.”

At PSG, Messi won the French Ligue 1 title twice and the Trophee des Champions as well – but only managed to make the Round of 16 in the Champions League on two occasions.

PSG fans may have believed that Messi joining their club could have been their chance to finally win the iconic trophy, having built a star-studded squad with some of the biggest names in the world. Mbappe, Neymar Jr and Ramos were part of this superteam at PSG, as well as club captain Marquinhos, Marco Veratti and Angel Di Maria.

However, the club were defeated 3-2 on aggregate by Real Madrid in the 2021/22 season, and then by Bayern Munich 3-0 on aggregate in the season after.

The Argentinian ended up moving to Beckham’s Inter Miami in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer and has added the Supporters Shield and Leagues Cup to his insane trophy haul, having netted 30 goals in 35 games for the club.