Given that he now feels at home in the French capital, Nasser Al-Khelaifi thinks actual worth will be discovered in an all-time great throughout 2022–2023.
During his first season at Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain did not witness Lionel Messi’s true colors, but according to Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Ligue 1 winners will witness the “greatest version ever” of the Argentine in 2022–23.
Many people celebrated the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s arrival in the French city in the summer of 2021, but an all-time great found it difficult to match the brilliance of his legendary era at Barcelona in a new setting.
Al-Khelaifi is confident he can rekindle his spark and elevate his game to even higher heights in a World Cup year, despite the fact that he is approaching the age of 35 and only has 12 months left on his PSG contract.
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Will Messi star for PSG next season?
PSG president Al-Khelaifi told Le Parisien: “There is no doubt that Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or a record seven times, and it was not his best season.
“But after more than 20 years in Barcelona, he discovered a new country, a new city, a new league, a new team. A new culture. As well as his family, and he was injured also by the coronavirus.
“It was not easy for Messi last season, but next season we will see the best version of Messi ever.”
6 goals. 14 assists.
Lionel Messi's first season in Ligue 1 is complete
pic.twitter.com/yDHtxwI7Nh
— GOAL (@goal) May 21, 2022
What was Messi’s record in 2021-22?
Messi took a while to find his feet in France as career-long ties with Barcelona were severed, and did not register his first goal for PSG until the Champions League clash with Manchester City in September.
It was November before he broke his duck in Ligue 1, and the campaign finished with just six efforts recorded in the French top-flight.
He managed a further five in European competition, but was unable to help PSG past the last-16 stage of that competition as old adversaries Real Madrid dashed his continental dreams.
Messi did contribute 14 assists in domestic action, with those creative qualities allowing him to add another major title to his collection.
