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Paris Saint-Germain chief cools Lionel Messi speculation

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 06 December 2020

PSG chief cools Lionel Messi speculation

Paris Saint-Germain chief Leonardo pours cold water over speculation linking Barcelona star Lionel Messi with a move to the Parc des Princes.

Paris Saint-Germain's sporting director Leonardo has played down the Ligue 1 champions' reported interest in Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi.

Journalist Daniel Riolo recently claimed that the six-time Ballon d'Or winner is prepared to make the switch to the Parc des Princes next summer, with Messi now in the final year of his Barcelona deal.

Furthermore, Messi's former Blaugrana teammate Neymar recently talked up a reunion with the Argentine, but Leonardo has since poured cold water over his club's links with Messi.

Speaking to Canal +, Leonardo said: "You know, it's normal for Neymar to say that to an Argentinian journalist. He had to talk about Messi, it's normal.

"We have to maintain respect for others. He's a Barcelona player. When somebody talks about our players, we are not happy. So we don't touch other people's players. Now is not the time to think about the transfer window.

"We are very happy with the squad we have. We are thinking of our season and the end of the first part of the season, which was very complicated.

'We have to stay focused on our goals such as qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League. And also we have to think about Ligue 1 and avoid finding ourselves in a complicated situation. Let's keep our focus."

Messi - also linked with a sensational move to Manchester City - was unable to prevent Barcelona from suffering a 2-1 defeat to newly-promoted Cadiz in La Liga on Saturday.