Thomas Tuchel Says Signing Lionel Messi 'Unlikely' As PSG Loses UCL Title To Bayern

Thomas Tuchel is tempering expectations on Lionel Messi potentially signing with Paris Saint-Germain. The German coach admitted that PSG is not too ardent on acquiring the Barcelona superstar as the French giants start to pick up the pieces from their Champions League final loss to Bayern Munich on Sunday.

PSG’s front-office would be looking for more depth for next season, according to Tuchel, who said that adding Messi could defeat the club’s purpose of expanding its talent pool in their bid to become European Champions next year.

“(Messi) is very welcome but we lost Edinson Cavani and Thomas Meunier,” Tuchel said, via the Guardian. “We lose Thiago Silva. Bayern is investing. If we want to compete on this level we have to use the window and make the squad bigger. Next season will be very demanding.”

Rumors about Messi’s departure from Camp Nou have been haunting Barca fans since the disarray within the club started to become apparent this season. The noise has earned more significant attention when the Blaugrana lost the La Liga title to Real Madrid, and further when they got beaten black and blue by Bayern in the UCL quarterfinal.

But while Tuchel recognizes the special type of talent and influence that Messi has, he believes that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner will still retire with the Spanish giants.

“We have to build. Which coach says no to Messi? We decided not to talk about transfers. We will sit together in the next days. I think Messi finishes his career at Barcelona. He is Mr. Barcelona.” the 46-year-old added.

Ex-Barcelona star, Ronaldo, is sharing the same view as Tuchel as he believes that the “financial crisis in Europe” could impede in Messi’s plan to leave the Catalans.

"It is very unlikely that Messi will leave Barcelona, especially with the financial crisis in Europe," said the Brazilian legend, per beIN Sports. "Messi is the reference of the team and if I was Barcelona, I would not let him leave in any case.

Barcelona has just hired Ronald Koeman as the club’s new head coach, replacing Quique Setien. Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has insisted that Messi will stay, adding that Koeman intends to keep the Argentine superstar at the forefront of the squad.