Sergi Roberto has leapt to the defence of Lionel Messi after the PSG fans jeered the Argentine star, and urged him to come back to Barcelona.
Messi was subjected to boos from the PSG fans before their match with Rennes on Sunday, following his performance as the club were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich last week.
Matters were made even worse when the French champions were beaten by Rennes, ending the club’s 35-match unbeaten run with a 2-0 victory at the Parc des Princes.
After the game Messi headed straight down the tunnel, and there is now a growing belief that he is unlikely to extend his stay in Paris with his contract expiring at the end of the season, and the club having doubts whether to offer him a new deal.
One of Messi’s possible next destinations is a fairytale return to the Nou Camp, and former teammate Sergi Roberto is eager to be reunited with the World Cup winner.
Lionel Messi was booed by the PSG fans before Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Rennes in response to their exit from the Champions League
Sergi Roberto believes the should be no reason for the PSG fans to boo the former Barca star
The Barcelona defender told Jijantes FC that he and the players are keen to see Messi return to his former club, when asked about Barca would welcome back the club legend.
‘With open arms, who is not going to be prepared for Messi’s return? In the end, we don’t want to talk a lot because he, the president, the coach or whoever has to decide, but if it’s because of the players, we are waiting for him now.’
Roberto, who scored in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over El Clasico rivals Real Madrid at the weekend, also waded in on the PSG’s fans treatment of Messi. Adding that he shouldn’t be subjected to the negativity he’s receiving from he the fans.
‘You don’t understand that he is having a good season in Paris, scoring many goals, assisting… Because of the [Champions League] elimination they have taken issue with him, but he is a spectacular player and it’s bad that a player of this level is treated in this way.
Roberto is keen to be reunited with his former teammate with Messi possibly leaving PSG
Here we are going to treat him very well if he comes.’
Messi has scored 18 times in 31 games for PSG this season, but was unable to help the club progress in the Champions League as they exited a the quarter-final stage.
With his contract up for renewal at the end of the season, the 35-year-old has been constantly linked with a return to Spain and to his former home.
MLS side Inter Miami are also trying to seduce Messi with a move to the MLS next season, while there are reports of Saudi Arabian side Al-Halai being ready to offer him a whopping £194m-a-season deal to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the far east.
SRC: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
