Lionel Messi Endured ‘Difficult’ Period At Paris Club, Ex-PSG Chief Says

Former PSG sporting director Leonardo opened up about Lionel Messi’s difficult two-year spell in Paris, offering a nuanced perspective on the legendary forward’s struggles. According to Leonardo, Messi’s claim that he “wasn’t happy” in Paris was partly a way for him to defend himself amid mounting pressure.

Leonardo acknowledged that Messi faced “a lot of misunderstanding” after his blockbuster move from Barcelona. In his view, the challenges were not solely physical or tactical — but deeply personal: leaving a home he had known for decades and trying to rebuild in a completely new environment took a toll.

“It was difficult for him. He had been in the same place for 20 years, and then you moved.”

From Leonardo’s standpoint, Messi’s public admission of unhappiness wasn’t just self-criticism — it was a way to justify his emotional state.

“Saying he wasn’t happy is a way of defending himself,” he said. The former director pointed to PSG’s elimination by Real Madrid in the 2021–22 Champions League as a particularly complicated moment — a key event that exacerbated the tension around Messi’s time at the club.

Messi himself has since spoken candidly about his difficult adjustment in Paris. He said he “had a hard time adapting” to the day‑to‑day life, including “the training, the matches.” In interviews, he admitted that although the move to PSG made sense professionally, personally it was a struggle.

Leonardo’s comments shed light on a difficult period in Messi’s career — one marked by internal conflict as much as professional challenge. Rather than painting Messi as merely discontent, he suggests there were real emotional battles behind the scenes, giving context to one of the most surprising chapters in the Argentine’s legendary journey.