Emmanuel Petit has described the whistles aimed at Lionel Messi by Paris Saint-Germain fans as ‘an insult to football’ and has taken a big swipe at the French club.
The Argentine World Cup winner has been jeered by a section of PSG fans whenever his name is read out prior to matches after negotiations over a contract extension stalled.
With Messi’s contract set to expire in the summer, and PSG requiring the 35-year-old to accept a 25 per cent pay cut on his £25.6million-a-year deal, he is edging towards the exit door.
Reports have suggested the player’s family want to return to Barcelona, where Messi spent the prime years of his career.
But despite 18 goals and 17 assists for PSG this season, the doubt over his future has led to some fans showing their displeasure towards one of the world’s greatest-ever footballers.
Emmanuel Petit (right) has slammed the Paris Saint-Germain fans who jeer Lionel Messi (left)
A section of fans have whistled Messi’s name when it is announced pre-match amid a stalemate over a contact extension for the Argentine World Cup winner.
Ex-Arsenal star Petit, who helped France win the World Cup in 1998, said on RMC Sport: ‘When I heat that, for me, it’s an insult to football.’
Expanding on Messi’s time at PSG, which has seen domestic success but failure in the Champions League, Petit added: ‘It’s not a football club. It’s a pre-retirement club, even for 20-year-old players.
‘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.’
Messi was jeered ahead of PSG’s 1-0 home defeat by Lyon on Sunday night, a result that left them just six points ahead of Lens and Marseille at the top of Ligue 1.
The Parisians have lost eight matches in all competitions since the turn of the year, including a Champions League exit to Bayern Munich at the last-16 stage.
They travel to Nice for their next league assignment on Saturday.
PSG coach Christophe Galtier also spoke out against the whistling of Messi’s name after the Lyon defeat.
He said: ‘Whistles against Leo Messi are very harsh. Leo is a player who gives a lot. He also gave a lot in the first part of the season but it is also up to other players to have more functions.
Messi was unable to prevent PSG slipping to a 1-0 home defeat by Lyon on Sunday evening
Messi was unable to prevent PSG slipping to a 1-0 home defeat by Lyon on Sunday evening
‘We are waiting for Leo and Kylian Mbappe, to unlock situations, But around Leo, the players must take more responsibility, because we can’t expect everything to come from Leo or Kylian.’
Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate Thierry Henry also came out against the booing fans.
‘It’s embarrassing to hear whistles from the Parc,’ he told Amazon Prime after the game.
‘You can’t whistle one of the best players in the team, who has 13 goals and 13 assists this season [in Ligue 1].’
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Source: dailymail.co.uk
