Former Barcelona Star Sends Warning To PSG Ahead Of Lionel Messi's Ligue 1 Debut

Former FC Barcelona star Thierry Henry has warned Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) regarding Lionel Messi's arrival at Parc des Princes.

Messi, who moved from Barcelona to PSG on a free transfer in the 2021 summer transfer window, is set to form one of the lethal attacks in European soccer along with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Henry, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona between 2007 and 2010, has insisted that it won't be an easy task for PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino and the Argentinian will have to find the best balance in his side to achieve success.

“Balance is the most important thing. In a moment, we always talk about the best players, attacking, advancing. But there has to be a balance. We talk about the team in which I played at Barca (with Eto’o and Messi) but people forget we didn’t let in many goals. In general, the teams that don’t let in many goals aren’t far from titles or Champions Leagues,” Henry told Spanish publication SPORT.

Messi spent 21 years at his boyhood club Barcelona. He made his senior debut in 2004 and finished his career at Camp Nou with an incredible record. He netted 672 goals and provided 305 assists in as many as 778 appearances for Barcelona, across all competitions.

“When you have superhuman players it’s a bit easier but when I see how Paris are doing at the moment, they are letting in a few too many goals for me. It’s true, they’re missing players but the balance is the most important thing,” added Henry, who won the Champions League with Messi at Barcelona in 2008-09 season.

Meanwhile, PSG have two of the most expensive players in soccer in Neymar and Mbappe. The Brazilian forward moved from Barcelona to Paris in the summer of 2017 and has scored 87 goals and 52 assists in 116 competitive matches for his club. Meanwhile, Mbappe, who has played more games in comparison, has netted 132 goals and provided 63 assists.

While it is understood that Messi won't make his PSG debut until the end of the month, there is still uncertainty regarding Mbappe's future at Parc des Princes. The 2018 World Cup winner has entered the final year of his contract with PSG but has refused to sign an extension and is expected to move to Real Madrid on a free transfer next summer.

It has been reported that PSG have agreed to let Mbappe join Real Madrid in the summer of 2022 and in the meantime, the French club has also identified Cristiano Ronaldo as Mbappe's ideal replacement. Even Ronaldo will become a free agent next summer.

Apart from Messi, PSG have also signed Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, Liverpool FC midfielder Gini Wijnaldum and AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on a free transfer.