Dani Alves: "Messi is not enjoying himself at PSG"
In an interview with ESPN, Barcelona right-back Dani Alves spoke about Messi's departure from the Blaugrana, saying that "he's not enjoying himself" in Paris.
Life has changed a lot for Lionel Messi since he left Barcelona last summer. Although he has won his seventh Ballon d'Or at Paris Saint-Germain, his performances have not been what we are used to. The Argentine arrived in Paris to form the most fearsome attack in world football with Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. The trio have already waved goodbye to this season's Champions League.
Messi booed by PSG fans
Recently booed at PSG's Parc des Princes stadium and criticised in the media, Messi is experiencing the hardest spell of his sporting career. Dani Alves, who also left Barcelona and joined PSG, knows all about it. The Brazilian is a close friend of the Argentine forward and spoke about his situation in an interview with ESPN.
"For me, Messi is not enjoying himself [at PSG], because Leo makes this game special, and he does it when he is having a good time, because when he is having a good time, everyone else enjoys it. For me he is out of place, Leo is out of place there. Leo lived in the best place in the world [Barcelona] to practice what he loves," Alves said.
"I want him to come [back] with me here, to enjoy at least a little bit more of all this," Alves continued. The Brazilian returned to Barcelona in December, the club where he has enjoyed football the most in his long career. When he left for PSG, Messi spoke to him. "Leo always told me: 'Where are you going to be better than here?' And I checked, there is no better place than here. Even when it came out that he was leaving I sent him the same message that he said to me," he said.
Alves dreaming of Messi return
Alves now dreams of Messi returning to Camp Nou. "For some reason he's not here and I hope he can come back. I don't know, but if he comes back, I hope he comes with me here, to enjoy a little bit more of all that. Everyone who leaves here regrets it, everyone. Some will say no, because they don't like to lose, but everyone who leaves regrets it, because they won't be better off anywhere else," he added.