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Paris Saint-Germain 'put Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos contract talks on hold'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 13 March 2023

PSG 'put Messi, Ramos contract talks on hold'

Paris Saint-Germain reportedly decide to put contract talks with Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos on hold, with the pair due to see their current deals expire in the summer.

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly decided to put contract talks with Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos on hold.

The legendary duo are facing uncertain futures at the Parc des Princes as their contract are due to expire at the end of the season.

Both players arrived at PSG in the summer of 2021 and helped the Parisian giants win the Ligue 1 title last season, while they remain on course to retain their French top-flight crown this term, with Christophe Galtier's men sitting 10 points clear of second-placed Marseille at the top of the table.

It is understood that PSG are keen to keep hold of both Messi and Ramos ahead of next season, with L'Equipe, via The Mirror, claiming that informal discussion have taken place over extending their contracts.

However, the report adds that the Parisian giants are concerned that they will be hit with Financial Fair Play charges and have decided to put contract talks on hold for the time being.

Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal with Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos on March 4, 2023 © Reuters

PSG were fined €10m for breaching FFP rules in the 2020-21 season and handed a further €45m suspended fine pending future accounts.

Further punishments could also be on the cards having endured record losses over the past few seasons, with their accounts for the 2021-22 financial year showing a significant loss of €370m.

Messi was allegedly the highest-paid player in world football when he signed for PSG, with his annual wages increasing from €30m to €40m last summer, but he has since been knocked off his perch by fellow forward Kylian Mbappe following his mega two-year contract extension in July last year.

Ramos, meanwhile, is also understood to be one of the highest earners at the Parc des Princes, with the former Real Madrid defender earning around £225,000 per week.

Sergio Ramos in action for Paris Saint-Germain on October 11, 2022 © Reuters

Ramos may be allowed to seek pastures new this summer, with PSG having already agreed to sign Inter Milan centre-back Milan Skriniar on a free transfer when his contract expires in June.

The Spaniard remained coy when asked about his future in a recent interview after PSG's Champions League loss to Bayern Munich, telling reporters: "I live day by day. Last season was very hard - now I feel good both physically and mentally, that is the most important. I don't think about the future. We will see this summer."

As for Messi, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has been linked with a potential return to Catalan giants Barcelona, while a switch to the MLS with Inter Miami has also been mooted.

However, the 35-year-old recently hinted that he could pen fresh terms to stay at PSG, telling the club's YouTube channel: "The truth is I feel great. The first year I had a hard time adapting to Paris for different reasons.

"This season I started differently, with a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of desire. [I'm] more comfortable with the club, the city and everything that Paris means."

Elsewhere, Real Madrid are reportedly plotting a move to sign Mbappe should he become a free agent in the summer of 2024.