Messi to PSG promises Mbappe exit? Pochettino addresses speculations

It has been suggested the Parisian club could sacrifice one of their star players to make room for the superstar footballer.

Mauricio Pochettino refuses to rule out Paris Saint-Germain potentially signing Lionel Messi but insists the former Barcelona man’s arrival would not push Kylian Mbappe away from the club.

Paris Saint-Germain were heavily linked with Messi after he sensationally handed in a transfer request at Barcelona last year.

The rumors gradually died down as the 34-year-old eventually decided to stay put and even agreed to sign a contract extension with his boyhood club.

However, the Ligue 1 giants have reportedly reignited their interest in the mercurial Argentine following the groundbreaking announcement of his departure from Camp Nou.

Taking the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations into account, though, PSG might not be able to work out such a high-profile transfer unless they let go of one of their star players – and that player could be Mbappe, who has long been tipped to join Real Madrid.

🚨🚨| “It is clear that if Messi goes to PSG they have to sell a player from the front. I do not confirm it, but it seems that it will be Mbappé.” @MatteMoretto [🎖]
— Madrid Xtra. (@MadridXtra) August 5, 2021

“A player of Messi’s calibre, that is what is interesting to me,” Pochettino told the press in response to the speculations, as Goal reports.

“The club are working on several options, but we must focus on the game with Troyes.

“I have not spoken with [Messi]. And [any move] would not mean that Kylian would leave.

“We know about what happened yesterday. The club is working on the transfer window and on the elements that could come in to improve the team and allow us to achieve our goals.”