Lionel Messi is “on Olympus” as one of many best gamers in historical past, and former Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo can’t consider he introduced the star to Ligue 1.
Leonardo departed on the finish of the 2021-22 marketing campaign, with former Monaco and Lille switch guru Luis Campos becoming a member of the Ligue 1 champions as a soccer advisor.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino can also be extensively anticipated to be heading for the exit door after failing to ship within the Champions League, which is the crown jewel within the eyes of PSG homeowners Qatar Sports activities Investments (QSI).
Nonetheless, Pochettino and Leonardo did handle to carry Argentina nice Messi to Paris initially of the season, ending a 17-year spell with Barcelona.
Messi ranked solely behind Kylian Mbappe (45) for purpose involvements for PSG in Ligue 1, with the previous’s 20 another than Neymar, who was the ultimate a part of an unimaginable frontline trio.
Solely Mbappe (70) created extra probabilities than Messi (63) as properly, however the Blaugrana legend’s first yr within the French capital was largely seen as considerably underwhelming, with simply six top-flight targets scored.
However, Leonardo mirrored gleefully on securing the providers of the 34-year-old alongside together with his personal achievements with PSG.
“We had thought of it so much, sure. We had talked about it, however Messi had by no means thought an excessive amount of about leaving Barcelona,” he informed L’Equipe.
“It was the final moments earlier than his arrival that had been decisive. Afterwards, every little thing turns into a bit extra regular however, you made Messi’s solely switch in his profession!
“Chronologically, there may be Pele, Maradona, Messi. He’s on Olympus.
“So once I take inventory of my final three years, I see a Champions League last, a semi-final, the tenth league title, seven nationwide trophies and I signed Messi.
“There are two very important moments for me, even when I don’t like to select the most effective. The primary is the signing, on the identical day, of [Marco] Verratti and [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic [in 2012].
“It was no coincidence {that a} teen from the Italian second division and a world soccer star arrived on the similar time. The second is Messi. These are two big dates.”
Mbappe rejected the advances of Actual Madrid to increase his stick with PSG, signing a profitable three-year settlement.
Reviews indicated the World Cup winner was supplied assurances referring to issues on and off the pitch.
Whereas Leonardo has departed and Pochettino seems set to comply with, the previous suggests he didn’t know whether or not the Mbappe settlement held such clauses.
“It was the top of the season and possibly it was the time to resolve issues for the longer term,” he added. “I wasn’t informed that, however I don’t wish to get into that type of factor.
“The truth that they’ve managed to carry on to that participant, a Frenchman and a Parisian, is vital for PSG and for Ligue 1.
“Sure issues that are stated internally ought to keep that manner. It’s what I’ve skilled with the membership. When the membership needs to do away with you, there’s no good approach to say it’s over.”
