OLYMPIC GAMES
Rothen: “Messi spent his two years at PSG strolling about on the pitch”
The former PSG and France player was less than overjoyed with the possibility that Messi may play for Argentina at the Olympic Games to be held in the French capital.
Since Argentina recently secured their ticket for the men’s football competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Lionel Messi’s name has been circling about as possible candidate to represent the Albiceleste as one of the permitted three ‘over-age’ players. A cameo at the Paris games would be his second Olympic appearance after he played at Beijing 2008. However, this possibility of Messi playing in the French capital has not been well received by former PSG player Jérôme Rothen.
The former PSG and France player has a section on RMC called “Rothen s’enflamme”, in which he expressed his discontent at the possibility of seeing Messi in the Paris Games. “Some people really have short memories. He has fired back at PSG, at France and at Paris since he left. French people respected Messi when he came. In return, you hope that respect is reciprocated. It was never like this. He has never praised the country. He never made the best of the city. And, when he left, he took pop-shots Paris Saint-Germain”, added the player who wore the PSG shirt from 2006-2010.
The 45-year-old continued to display his vitriol during the radio show adding: “Messi’s performances were never up to par. He signed with PSG to shine in the World Cup, we understood very well that it was a welcoming place where it was good to live... a place where he could stroll around. “He was smart, he won his World Cup.”
Rothen also stated that he would whistle at Messi if he came with Argentina to play in Paris next summer and requested that his listeners to do the same. “I, as a Parisian and a Frenchman if I were to see him here again wearing that sky blue and white jersey…
I ask that he be whistled. I’m not saying that you have to be violent, but whistle him when he is on the field to show him that we are very dissatisfied with the image he has given to PSG, Paris and France. Let him know that being back in Paris he will not be shown the red carpet,” Rothen concluded.