{"id":577568,"date":"2021-01-05T19:02:49","date_gmt":"2021-01-06T00:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=577568"},"modified":"2021-01-06T05:18:57","modified_gmt":"2021-01-06T10:18:57","slug":"mauricio-pochettino-psg-lionel-messi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/01\/05\/mauricio-pochettino-psg-lionel-messi\/","title":{"rendered":"Mauricio Pochettino Fails to Rule Out Summer Move to Paris Saint-Germain for Lionel Messi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mauricio Pochettino has refused to rule out a summer move for Barcelona<\/a> forward Lionel Messi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Speaking at a press conference following his Paris Saint-Germain appointment<\/a>, he left the door open for a possible transfer to France for the Argentinian.<\/p>\n

Mauricio Pochettino Fails to Rule Out Move for Lionel Messi<\/h2>\n

‘Any Big Player in the World is Welcome’<\/h3>\n

Newly appointed PSG<\/a> boss Mauricio Pochettino refused to quash any rumours linking the French club with a move for Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n

When asked whether he would speak to his fellow Argentinian this month over a possible move, he said any big player in the world was welcome to join them.<\/p>\n

He told the Guardian<\/a>: “To be honest, we are not talking about that.<\/p>\n

“We have just arrived and it\u2019s been a crazy period, trying to adapt to a new club. We\u2019ve had lots of meetings, training sessions and are preparing for a game [at Saint-\u00c9tienne on Wednesday].<\/p>\n

“For sure we are going to have time to talk about everything. At Paris Saint\u2011Germain, any big player in the world is, I think, welcome.”<\/p>\n

Lionel Messi’s contract with Barcelona is set to expire later this year, leading to the circulation of rumours surrounding his future – including a possible move to PSG with Mauricio Pochettino.<\/p>\n

The Argentine failed to offer any hints into possible transfer activity at the French club, avoiding any questions about Dele Alli or Christian Eriksen.<\/p>\n

First up for Pochettino is a double-header of Ligue 1 fixtures against Saint-Etienne and Brest.<\/p>\n

The Argentinian will then take on Marseille in the Trophee des Champions – the French equivalent of the Community Shield.<\/p>\n

He will then face Barcelona and Messi in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg taking place in Spain on February 16.<\/p>\n

Lionel Messi’s contract at Barcelona expires later this year.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>